Dr. Mikaela DeRousseau recently defended her doctoral dissertation, graduating in Summer 2020. Her dissertation developed a new multi-objective framework for desigining sustainable concrete mixtures, combining machine learning, life cycle assessment (LCA), and multi-objective evolutionary algorithm optimization. Her NSF-funded research also contributed a review of decision support for concrete mixture design, and a workshop that brought together academics, concrete designers, and regulators.
Dr. DeRousseau is now Data and Methodology Manager for Building Transparency, a non-profit that was incubated at the Carbon Leadership Forum in Seattle, WA. In her role, she will be聽developing and documenting data quality assessment methodology for environmental product declarations, advancing the quality and reliability of embodied carbon and LCA data, and advocating for improved, rigorous data standards to PCR committees and external organizations.
She had this to say about her time at CU:
Being advised by both Dr. Kasprzyk and Dr. Srubar, I gained a very interdisciplinary skill set. My research utilized multi-objective optimization, statistical learning, life cycle assessment, and cement and concrete science. I'm excited to continue to apply the skills I've honed to reduce the embodied carbon of buildings and to develop tools that make designing low-carbon infrastructure a simpler task.