Dupaix Receives Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from NSF
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Rebecca Dupaix $400,000 to jump-start new research that will ultimately advance the state of the art in polymer manufacturing.
Dupaix, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, acquired the funding in addition to receiving the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from NSF. This award emphasizes the importance placed on the early development of academic careers dedicated to stimulating the discovery process in which the excitement of research is enhanced by inspired teaching and enthusiastic learning.
With her newest award and funding, Dupaix will begin developing experimental and numerical tools to optimize the micro-hot embossing process for amorphous polymers.
Her research will include an experimental investigation of the effects of surface characteristics in processing-and results will be used to develop and validate new finite element simulations of hot embossing.
Kamakshi Singh, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, is currently assisting Dupaix with her research. However, the new award will help to fund an additional graduate student and approximately six undergraduates over the span of the next five years.
Current experimental data for hot embossing, taken near a glass transition temperature of 100oC (212oF), is lacking-and Dupaix is setting out to change that. Her research will generate new experimental data for polymers near the glass transition phase and provide computational modeling tools for design and optimization of micro-hot embossing, while also providing insight into the role of micro-scale surface features in hot embossing.
Dupaix, who is thrilled to have received the award, notes her deep commitment to the integration of research and education.
"For me, it will never be enough to simply discover new engineering knowledge," says Dupaix. "Along the way, I want the students I interact with, both in the classroom and in the laboratory, to experience discovery for themselves. My hope is that it will spark in them a desire to learn, explore, and innovate throughout their careers and their lives."
