Dr. Linus Labik Becomes First Ghanaian Simons Foundation Pivot Fellow
Dr. Linus Kweku Labik, a materials scientist and a lecturer at the Department of Physics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has been selected as a 2024 Simons Foundation Pivot Fellow, the first Ghanaian to receive this prestigious honour.
The Pivot Fellowship, launched in 2022, supports outstanding researchers transitioning into new disciplines within the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, data science, and computer science. It provides funding for research, travel, and mentorship, including a $50,000 grant for the mentor's lab.
Dr. Labik’s work at KNUST focuses on sustainable solutions through materials science, from lithium-ion battery recycling and eco-friendly construction materials to the use of locally sourced zeolites for wastewater treatment and energy systems.
His expertise in analytical tools has driven innovations aimed at solving real-world environmental challenges.
Now shifting into astronomy, Dr. Labik will use the fellowship year to study grain coagulation in protoplanetary disks, a key process in planet formation.
He hopes to contribute to the understanding of planetary systems and inspire more Ghanaian scientists to explore the cosmos by merging his materials science background with radio astronomy.
The Simons Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City dedicated to advancing the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences.
Through programmes like the Pivot Fellowship, the foundation empowers exceptional scientists to explore bold, interdisciplinary ideas that drive scientific discovery and innovation across the globe.
