Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Practice
Education
- 2012, Doctoral Degree, University of Southern California
- 2009, Master's Degree, Materials Science
, University of Southern California
- 2007, Bachelor's Degree, Astronautical Engineering, University of Southern California
Biography
Lessa Grunenfelder has a B.S. in astronautical engineering and a MS and PhD in materials science, all from USC. In 2015 she joined the Mork Family Department as teaching faculty. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses on material properties, processing, selection, and design. She is passionate about sharing her love of materials science with students through curriculum that combines fundamental science and engineering application. Her research interest is in efficient manufacturing of high performance composites. She is an active member of the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineers (SAMPE), and remains engaged in research through collaboration with the M.C Gill Composites Center at USC.
Research Summary
Engineering education and active learning techniques. Out-of-autoclave manufacturing of carbon fiber composites; defect control, processing efficiency, and next -generation prepregs
Awards
- 2013 Viterbi School of Engineering Viterbi School of Engineering Best Thesis Award in Materials Science
- 2012 Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science 2nd place, Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Student Research Symposium (oral presentation)
- 2012 Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering 1 st place. Processing category, Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering Technical Conference student poster competition
- 2011 American Society for Metals American Society for Metals International Student Scholarship
- 2011 American Society for Metals 1 st place, American Society for Metals International, Los Angeles Chapter, Student Night oral presentation competition
- 2011 Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering 1 st place, Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering Graduate/Senior Student Award (oral presentation)
- 2011 Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering 1 st place, Outstanding Paper Award, Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering Conference
- 2010 ARCS Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Scholar
- 2010 American Society for Composites Best Paper Award, 25th American Society for Composites Technical Conference
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