School of Computing and Engineering & the Built Environment,
Edinburgh Napier University,
Libu Manjakkal, PhD
Research Associate
Former Marie Curie Fellow
Scientific Project Manager- Marie Curie ITN project AQUASENSE
Education
I completed B.Sc., degree in Physics (2006) with subsidiary topics in chemistry and mathematics from Calicut University, Kerala, India. In 2008, from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India, I received M.Sc. degree in Physics. The research project topic on M.Sc. was design and assembly of Line Follower Robot. In 2015, I received the Ph.D. degree in Electronic Engineering with honors from the Institute of Electron Technology, Poland. The Ph.D. topic was focus on the development of metal oxides based electrochemical pH sensors for online water quality monitoring and I worked in this project as a Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher.
Research
I have more than 10 years of research experience (nearly 6 years in post-doctoral) in the field of material synthesis, electrochemical devices (fabrication of sensors and energy storage), energy generators (fabrication of triboelectric and piezoelectric, integration of solar cell) and flexible electronics. The developed systems were applied for various applications including environmental monitoring (water and air pollution), health monitoring (wearable sensors), wearable energy and robotics. For sweat monitoring sensors I developed new textile supercapacitor working with sweat as an electrolyte. For hybrid energy generation and storage, I designed fully flexible self -powered pack (integration of solar cell, supercapacitor and sensors/motors). This hybrid energy technology were employed wearable sensors, water quality monitoring sensors and operating motors in robotic/prosthetic hand.
I have been involved in multidisciplinary projects in different countries (India, UK, Poland, Portugal, Austria and Serbia) and excellent track record of collaborative projects, including attracting the research funding. For example, I have participated in 4 EU Projects (3 Marie Curie ITNs and 1 project on manufacturing - NWCAM), two BRNS (India) projects, 1 EPSRC project, 1 EPSRC Partnership Fund project, INNOVATIVE UK, ICURe grant, and 1 RAeng Project.
Going forward, I would continue to focus on research and teaching in sustainable materials for energy storage and energy autonomous systems for applications including healthcare, electric vehicles/robotics, and pollution monitoring. One of my ambitious plans is to develop a technology platform for environment friendly electrochemical devices (sensors energy storage devices) based on naturally abundant materials.
Employment
Lecturer 07/2022- till date Edinburgh Napier University, UK
Research Associate 07/2018-06/2022 Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK.
Research Assistant 10/2016-06/2018 Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK.
Marie Curie Experienced Researcher 06/2016-09/2016 Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK.
Post Doctoral Researcher 08/2015-06/2016 Institute of Electron Technology, Krakow, Poland.
Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher 08/2012-07/2105 Institute of Electron Technology, Krakow, Poland.
Researcher 05/2012-07/2012 CENIMAT, New University Lisbon, Portugal
Project Staff 10/2009-04/2012 Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology, Kerala, India
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Visiting Researcher
Marie Curie Secondment (02 and 03- 2015) Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Austria
Marie Curie Secondment (08- 2014) NORTH Point Ltd. Subotica, Serbia
Marie Curie Secondment (07- 2014) University of Novi Sad, 21000, Novi Sad Serbia)
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ITE, Poland Group-2015
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Describe your image
ITE, Poland Group-2015