Maryam Shakiba, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, been selected for the Air Force’s Young Investigator Research Program by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for her work studying high-temperature polymer matrix composites design through sensitivity analyses of microstructures.
Shakiba’s research focuses on materials and environmental reactions. Structures are constantly exposed to conditions such as temperature fluctuation, relative humidity, chloride, liquids flow, erosion, scouring, and oxidative aging which can degrade and change material properties. She uses theoretical and computation mechanics to unravel the link between the composition, microstructure, and performance of complex materials under different intense environmental and mechanical loadings to help in designing new resilient and sustainable structures.
Dr. Mona Ghassemi, assistant professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering was also selected for the award in 2019.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research announced that it will award approximately $17.8 million in grants to 40 scientists and engineers who show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research of military interests. The objective of the program is the enhance early career development and increase opportunities for young investigators to recognize the Air Force mission and the related challenges in science and engineering.
Shakiba earned her doctoral degree in structural engineering from Texas A&M University in 2013.
Click here to see the full article and list of award winners.