Oluwaseun Akinola is a Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering at the University of Connecticut, where he is tackling the urgent challenges of air pollution and climate change with an advanced systems modeling approach. Under the guidance of Dr. Abi Lawal, Oluwaseun’s research integrates chemical transport modeling (CMAQ-ISAM), meteorological data (WRF), and emission processing (SMOKE) to trace ozone pollution drivers—specifically NOx and VOC sources—across New England.

With over seven years of professional experience across the oil and gas, environmental safety, and education sectors, Oluwaseun brings a depth of real-world expertise to academia. He has led high-impact environmental safety projects, including Environmental Impact Assessments for battery recycling plants and CNG stations, Fire & Explosion Risk Assessments for industrial facilities, and Landfill Stability & Gas Migration Studies. His industry background also includes preparing Operational Safety Cases to meet stringent regulatory compliance standards.

But Oluwaseun’s journey at UConn isn’t just about research—it’s about leadership. A member of the John Lof Leadership Academy (JLLA), he has been intentional in building leadership capacity alongside technical excellence. “Joining JLLA early was pivotal,” he shares. “It’s helped me grow not only as a researcher but also as a mentor.” That mentorship is already in action—he’s guiding undergraduate researchers in the lab and will soon serve as a graduate science mentor for NASA’s Student Airborne Research Program (SARP) this summer.

Oluwaseun aspires to become a seasoned environmental engineer, one who uses advanced modeling tools to guide both industrial innovation and regulatory compliance, while also mentoring underrepresented STEM talent along the way. His experience with JLLA has sharpened his leadership and project management skills through workshops and meaningful peer engagement, preparing him to take on technical and societal challenges with purpose.