Halle Block
Ms. Halle Block
Ph.D. Program
School of Materials Engineering
Purdue University
B.S. in Physics, Stetson University, 2024
Project: Sustainable Concrete from Upcycled Chemical Admixtures
Bio: Halle grew up in Orlando, Florida where she graduated Valedictorian of her high school. She went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics at Stetson University in Deland, Florida, where she held the positions of Lead Physics and Mathematics Tutor of the university, Teaching Assistant for College Physics II, and President of the Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics Honor Society. While at Stetson, Halle was mentored by Physics Professor Holley E. Lynch, under whom she assisted in Axolotl Tissue Spreading research. Professor Lynch was also Halle’s primary advisor for her senior research, Bioplastics: Decomposition and Compost Fertility, in which Halle sought to analyze the longevity and environmental implications of novel, sustainable materials which claim to be the solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Upon the end of Halle’s undergraduate career, she was selected by her professors for the Outstanding Graduating Senior in Physics award. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude, signifying her determination and resilience for academic and overall achievements.
Since her early childhood, Halle has had a passion for environmental protection. Through her education and research experiences, Halle gained particular interest in the life cycle assessments of materials. She has since realized her dream is to make an innovative impact for the sake of environmental health and sustainability in the form of sustainable materials. This vision led Halle to apply to graduate programs where she found research groups working in the realm of sustainable, innovative materials. This is how she found the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University. Halle joined Professor Kendra Erk’s Soft Material Mechanics (SMM) group as a Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant in 2024 funded by the Frederick N. Andrews Fellowship. Her project is in the early stages of a collaboration with personal care and hygiene product manufacturer, Procter & Gamble (P&G), working on the upcycling of absorbent material waste into concrete as internal curing agents. This work is environmentally, industrially and economically focussed with foreseeable benefits in the reduction of costly, fossil fuel based concrete additives, the creation of more durable concrete with reduced ratio of emissions to strength, and the reduction of a significant landfill waste stream from post-manufacturer discard.
Besides her work, Halle is a volleyball enthusiast who loves nature, learning about different cultures, and traveling. She is on her way to visiting all seven continents, with her most favorite trips so far being her time spent in Kenya and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.