Energy is defined to be the ability to do work. This definition is basic yet entails a lot to know about energy and how it applies to our daily life, healthcare delivery, education, and general production. Africa is blessed as a continent with several natural resources that aid in the generation and usage of energy. It is only expected of its people to make optimal use of it. On this week’s #AlumoftheWeek, we highlight the work of Katawoura Beltako, an AIMS Ghana 2014 alumnus in Quantum Simulations and Energy Materials. Katawoura is a Togolese and currently serves as the Principal Investigator for the ARISE Research Program.
Having received training and bachelor’s degree in Physical Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Physics both from the University of Lome, Togo, Katawoura proceeded to AIMS Ghana in the 2013/14 academic year to learn more about how his knowledge in Physics and Chemistry can be combined with the Mathematical Sciences to make Africa a better one. The exposure at AIMS and supervisors’ mentoring landed him the Aix-Marseille University Excellence Scholarship in 2014, which enabled him to study for a PhD in Nanoscience and Nanoelectronics, graduating in 2018. While at it, he also received the French High Education Doctoral Scholarship in 2015. His doctoral work focused on the implementation of a computational modelling technique for studying time-dependent electronic quantum transport in complex materials and nanodevices.
In his current role as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Physics at Augsburg University in Germany, he serves as a principal investigator for the African Academy of Sciences on their implementation of a research unit at the University of Lome. In this unit, Katawoura and his team take advantage of the power of theoretical and AI-based computations confirmed by experimental measurements to propose nanojunctions beyond their current limitations on molecule stability and efficiency for thermoelectric, electronic and energy applications. This research project focuses on the study of different aspects of quantum transportation across molecular junctions and nanostructured materials, ranging from heat transports, their excited states and their dynamics. The research is expected to lead to a better understanding of thermoelectricity and charge transport at the nano-scale discovery for energy application.
Katawoura indicates his struggle to rob shoulders with researchers from the western world until he discovered AIMS and its impact on him. He believes nothing can stop him from achieving his highest goal with hard work and the skills developed from AIMS.
“AIMS was the turning point of my career. The quality of learning, the environment created around learning, and the opportunities that came my way offered me the grounds for a proper take-off.”
Katawoura also served as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Japanese Postdoctoral Fellowship for Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in 2019. He believes that the only way to success is working hard but smart and being prepared to take advantage of every opportunity that will come your way. One of which is the AIMS Master’s Program which has its application window open now. Visit www.nexteinstein.org to apply now.