Aakriti Kharel, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist/Materials Engineer/Polymer Scientist at TE Connectivity
Materials Engineer | Polymer Scientist | Senior Scientist at TE Connectivity
TE Connectivity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/te-connectivity
•	 Develop new polymeric material technologies focusing on thermoplastics, thermosets, adhesives, and composites for application in TE products such as connectors, sensors, and wire and cable 
•	 Drive material development work from research phase to product application
•	 Provide internal consulting to business units in material selection and failure analysis
•	 Collaborate with cross-functional teams across the globe
San Francisco Bay Area
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Senior Scientist/Materials Engineer/Polymer Scientist
University of Minnesota
https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-minnesota
Ph.D. Advisor: Timothy P. Lodge
Developed fundamental understanding of structural, dynamic and thermodynamic properties of technologically relevant polymers in novel solvents ionic liquids
Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
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Ph.D. Student/Research Scientist
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
https://www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-minnesota
Advisor: Timothy P. Lodge
Exhibited the first report of an ionic liquid-based solvent system for methylcellulose and demonstrated the absence of gelation
Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
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Summer Research Intern
Ph.D. in Materials Science
Polymer Science
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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-minnesota/
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Chemistry, Applied Mathematics
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Wesleyan College
https://www.linkedin.com/school/wesleyan-college/
University of Cambridge International GCE Advanced Level
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and General Paper
Budhanilkantha School
Graduate Women in Science
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American Chemical Society POLY
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American Physical Society
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UMN Student Chapter of ACS POLY PMSE
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Dilute Solution Properties of Poly(benzyl methacrylate) in Ionic Liquids
Macromolecules
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.macromol.9b02618
Effect of Ionic Liquid Components on the Coil Dimensions of PEO
Macromolecules
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00354
Coil Dimensions of Poly(ethylene oxide) in an Ionic Liquid by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering
Macromolecules
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.macromol.7b02014?src=recsys
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TE Connectivity Spot Awards - 3 separate recognitions
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ACS Excellence in Undergraduate Polymer Research
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Kaolin Industry Award in Chemistry
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Lise Meitner Award in Physics
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Margaret Frances Edenfield Math Scholarship
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Outstanding Senior Award in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Fellowship
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Sara Mathews Award in Scientific Research
Colloids and Dispersions
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Materials Characterization
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Mechanism of Chemical Reaction
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Physical Polymer Chemistry
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Polymer Rheology
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Scattering from Soft Matter
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Synthetic Polymer Chemistry
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Science and Technology
FIRST Robotics Canada
https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-robotics-canada
Took official pictures of the robotics tournament, featured on official TE website and other platforms

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/te-connectivity_stem-activity-6629070637044416513-GRX8
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Photographer
Health
TE Connectivity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/te-connectivity
Assembled 200+ face shields to donate to local hospitals during COVID-19 crisis
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Face shields assembler
Health
American Cancer Society
https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-cancer-society
Represented TE Fremont facility on a 5k walk to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer
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5k Walk against breast cancer
Sean Kennedy
      
          



            
              
        
              
  

    
         want to thank Aakriti for her outstanding performance in one of the TE projects. Aakriti was assigned while the project was underway, and she got fully up to speed in lightning speed. Since then, Aakriti has been working with her team to autonomously push tasks in development of next generation polymer composites. Aakriti's leadership has lead us to novel materials that we are taking to manufacturing and molding trials. Her performance to this point has been nothing short of above and beyond the call of duty. Her recurring updates are honestly the best update of my week.