MSc. Carrete, I.A.

Israel Carrete is a PhD Candidate in the Design for Sustainability research group at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering who works on the circular design of composite materials through structural reuse.

Composite materials are a hybrid of materials that, when combined, provide superior properties for a certain application. However, this same material combination complicates end-of-life treatments. The aim of this research is to improve the circularity of composite-based product design by exploring the (re)use of natural fiber composites with bio-based matrices.

Academic Background

Prior to starting his PhD, Israel was a technician at the Applied Labs. There, he maintained and managed the Materials and Chemical Labs while aiding researchers working on material innovation and testing. 

Israel is no stranger to innovative materials. His background in Integrated Product Design and materials science has led him to develop a 3D printable composites made from plastic and textile waste. A curiosity about the applications of new materials in design brought him to TU Delft. Here, his graduation project involved characterizing the mechanical properties of a bio-manufactured plant root material.

Education

  • 2019 - 2021
    MSc, Integrated Product Design, TU Delft, The Netherlands
  • 2018 - 2019
    MSc, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX
  • 2013 - 2017
    BSc, Materials Science and Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI