Linus Kweku Labik

Dr. Linus Kweku Labik is a Lecturer and Researcher in Applied Materials Physics at the Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. His research expertise spans Lithium-ion Battery Systems and Applications, Sustainable Construction Materials (Low-Carbon Bricks), Astronomy, and Physics Education.Dr. Labik holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Physics from the University for Development Studies, Ghana, and obtained both his Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Materials Science from KNUST. Appointed as a Lecturer at KNUST in 2021, he also serves as the Coordinator for the Astronomy Programmes within the Department of Physics.His significant contributions to materials science include research on Lithium-ion battery recycling technologies and advancing battery management systems for various applications such as electric vehicles, large battery packs, battery charging stations, and battery swap facilities. Additionally, he is actively involved in research to enhance the durability and microstructural properties of low-carbon mudbricks, providing sustainable and resilient construction solutions to combat chemical degradation and erosion.Dr. Labik was selected as a winner of the prestigious Simons Foundation Presidential Pivot Fellowship (2024 cohort). Through this fellowship, his research aims to deepen the scientific understanding of grain coagulation processes in protoplanetary disks—an essential phase in planetary formation outlined by the core accretion model. His extensive expertise in crystallisation mechanisms, derived from his work in zeolite synthesis and characterisation, uniquely positions him to contribute valuable insights into astrophysical phenomena.He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, UK, where his research is in the study of protoplanetary disks. His passion for physics education is evident through his involvement with the Physics Panel, which developed the revised Senior High School Physics Curriculum for Ghana. He continues to support educational initiatives by designing additional instructional materials and resource packages to enhance physics teaching and learning outcomes across Ghana.