My name is Adriana Alvarado-Ramirez, and I am a chemical engineer on a mission. Currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate in Engineering Science at Louisiana State University, where my research is focused on a critical goal: decarbonizing the construction industry.

(2017-2022) My journey began at Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral in Ecuador, where I earned my Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. This is also where I first discovered my passion for research while working as a Teaching Laboratory Technician, guiding students and managing research projects.

(2022) Beyond the lab, I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I founded a small-scale cosmetics company, developing and launching 22 custom formulations and selling over 800 units. This venture taught me about product development from concept to commercialization.

(2022-current) My core research at LSU involves pioneering new ways to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. I’ve led projects that have successfully reduced carbon emissions by up to 26% and have even developed a carbon net-zero concrete formulation by integrating biochar and black carbon. It’s a challenge that allows me to combine my knowledge of material science, chemistry, and engineering to create a real-world impact.

(2022) Parallel to diving deep into my Ph.D., I gained invaluable hands-on experience in the industry. My time as a Chemistry Intern at NexTier Completion Solutions allowed me to test and reformulate cement slurries, saving the company over $1M annually.

(2023) As a Field Engineer Intern with Patterson-UTI Energy, I managed cementing operations in the field, ensuring well integrity and safety, and even helped lead a project that resulted in significant cost savings.