Phoebe Anagnos ('28), an Architecture and Earth and Environmental Science double major, conducted research on natural materials that could be used to replace carbon-emissive materials with mentorship from Dr. Laia Mogas-Soldevila (Department of Architecture). This research was supported by the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program.
How can we shift from emissive, everlasting building materials to low-impact, biodegradable alternatives? What would it mean to design housing that is not just energy efficient, but ecologically integrated? I explored these ideas this summer in the DumoLab, where I contributed to research on chitosand, a bio-based composite made primarily from sand and chitosan. My investigations focused on how natural coatings might improve weather resistance and how chemical additives could strengthen mechanical performance. Witnessing how data can drive design decisions reinforced my desire to contribute to the field of architecture.
Over these ten weeks, I learned what it means to be a researcher in both technical and personal terms. I worked closely with my project lead, an experienced designer and engineer, who treated me as a collaborator and encouraged me to contribute my ideas. Daily check-ins with her pushed me to articulate what I was learning, reflect on what was exciting, and consider whether the experience was aligning with my goals. I also came to understand the importance of data confidence, as I ran and re-ran tests to validate our results. Most of all, I witnessed how patient, iterative experimentation can support innovation, an approach I will carry with me in both my future architectural design work and scientific research.
Many aspects of the project required teamwork- dividing the project in ways that played to each of our strengths while working towards a shared goal. One of the most memorable parts of the summer was traveling to New York with the lab to support other members of our team competing in a biodesign challenge. There, we had the opportunity to listen to dozens of student presentations about projects in development. This trip better connected our lab members and also provided opportunities for me to network.
Outside of research, I lived in a sublet with six other Penn students, a couple of whom I became very close with through campus walks, concerts, quesadilla nights, and movies at Circa Green. There ended up being more people I knew on campus than expected, which brought a sense of spontaneity to the summer, from last-minute tennis matches to stumbling across friends painting along the river. I also continued writing for the Daily Pennsylvanian, which gave me the chance to cover stories about people and organizations I would not have been able to during the school year. Altogether, these experiences made Penn feel smaller and gave me a great summer.
The biggest skill I developed this summer was patience. Working with chitosand involved extensive trial and error, and often, just waiting. I waited for samples to dry, for compressive strength tests to run, for UV processes to take effect, and for enough data to reveal trends. I am used to fast-paced environments where you move quickly from one task to the next, but this research forced me to slow down and stay present. I had to really understand the materials I was working with, reread papers multiple times, and give myself space to think before deciding what to do next. Other skills I developed were the ability to think iteratively, acceptance of ambiguity as part of the research process, and the recognition that there might never be a single perfect solution to a problem. As a result, my mindset has shifted in terms of how I think about the intersections of architecture and environmental science. When prioritizing long-term resilience is more important than short-term performance, the ability to evaluate and adapt is key.
Interested in reading more first-hand accounts about undergraduate research? Check out the other experiences featured on our Student News Page and Social Media!
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