Sustainability and Energy Fellow
2026 Cohort
PhD program: AMOLF, ARCNL, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Fellowship mentors: Lucia Stein-Montalvo, PhD, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Nivedita Arora, PhD, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering
Paul Ducarme completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Liège in Belgium, before moving to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to pursue his PhD at the AMOLF and ARCNL research institutes, graduating from the University of Amsterdam in May 2026. His doctoral work explored how mechanical instabilities (moments when structures suddenly snap or buckle) can be harnessed to embed new properties, functionalities, and exotic mechanical behaviors in materials and structures. In particular, he experimentally demonstrated a new type of instability, called countersnapping, that allows structures to deform in ways that were previously impossible, becoming stronger as they snap.
At Northwestern, Paul's research will take these ideas in a new direction. Amid the growing pressures of climate change and urbanization, he aims to develop buildings and architectural elements that passively change shape to respond to, adapt to, and help regulate heat, ventilation, light, or air pollution, giving the urban environment more life-like attributes. Just as a pinecone opens or closes with humidity or a leaf unfolds toward light, he envisions facades, rooftops, or other architectural elements that switch between distinct configurations, without motors, external power, or complex machinery.
The goal is to lower building energy consumption and reduce reliance on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, which are among the largest energy consumers in our cities. By embedding shape-shifting and sensing capabilities directly into structures, Paul aims to develop passive, low-maintenance alternatives that maintain and improve livability in indoor and outdoor urban spaces.
As a fellow, Paul will collaborate with assistant professors Lucia Stein-Montalvo (Adaptive Structures Lab) and Nivedita Arora (Embodied System Lab), and plans to engage with local, academic, and industrial communities to build real-life prototypes that make the Chicagoland area a living showcase for adaptive, sustainable architecture.