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CV

Maria L. Auad PhD
Department of Chemical Engineering 
Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites
320 Ross Hall, Auburn 36849
Auburn University
Office: (334) 844-5459
E-mail: auad@auburn.edu

SPECIALTY AREAS

Polymer material science, polymer composites and nanocomposites, control of microstructures & nanostructure in materials, self-assemblies, interpenetrating polymer networks, shape memory polymers, polymers for structural & biomedical applications, materials from renewable resources.

PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION

1989-1995 B. Sc Chemical Engineering, University of Mar del Plata, Argentina

1995-2000 Ph.D. Material Sciences, Unviersity of Mar del Plata, Argentina

2000-2002 Postdoctoral scholar, Chemical Engineering Department, California Institute of Technology, CALTECH

APPOINTMENTS

2017- Present Full Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University

2015-Present Director, Center of Polymer and Advanced Composites, Auburn University

2013-2015 Interim Department Chair, Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn Unversity

2015-2017 Associate Professor, Dep. of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University

2010-2015 Associate Professor, Polymer and Fiber, Dep. of Chemical Engineering Auburn University

2006-2010 Assistant Professor, Polymer and Fiber Engineering Department, Auburn University

2003-2006 Research Assistant, Dept. of Chemical Eng. and Materials Science, University of Southern California

HONORS AWARDS

2018 Recipient of 2018 School of Engineering Senior Faculty Research Award

2015 Recipient of 2015 Women of Distinction Faculty Leadership Award, given by the Auburn University Womans Resource Center

2015 Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship Award, Dr. Maria L. Auad -Matthew Halverson (undergraduate student)

2013-2016 Awarded member of the Auburn University International Teaching Academy

2009-2011 3M Non-Tenured Faculty Grant Award, 3M New Environmentally Safe Barrier Materials, $45,000

2010 Outstanding Faculty Member, Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University

2002-2006 M. C. Gill Corporation Fellowship, University of Southern California

2006 Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) USC Program, University of Southern California

2000-2002 Antorchas Foundation, Argentina, research grant,

1998-1999 Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Reseach Grant 97-267 RG/CHE/LA, refereed selection

PhD and MASTER STUDENTS WHOSE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED

Mehul Barde, MS*/ PhD, Polymer and Fiber Engineering, “Sustainable Resins, Polymers and Crosslinked Networks from Pyrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass”, Graduation Fall 2018, current job: Intel

Bernal Sibaja,MS*/PhD Polymer and Fiber Engineering, “Thermosetting Polymers from Renewable Resources”, Graduation Summer 2016, current job: Faculty, National Laboratory of Nano-Technology (LANOTECH), Costa Rica 

Samantha Bird, MS*/PhD Polymer and Fiber Engineering, “Interpenetrating Polymer Networks with Polyurethane and Methacrylate-based Polymers’< graduation Summer 2013, current job: Apply Technical Services, Atlanta, GA

Christopher Ward, Dr. Davis (Advisor) Dr. Auad (Co-Advisor),MS*/PhD Polymer and Fiber Engineering, “Incorporation of Nanoparticles in Polymeric Materials for Medical Applications”, Graduation Summer 2013, current job: Solvay Specialty Polymers, Atlanta

Ricardo Ballestero Mendez, MS Polymer and Fiber Engineering, “Sequential graft-Interpenetrating Polymer Networks based on Polyurethane and Acrylic/ester Copolymers”, Fall 2015

Ramis Boy, MS Polymer and Fiber Eng., “Generic Films and Fibers from Polysaccharides: Chitosan and Alginate”, Summer 2011, Grad Student Univ. South Carolina.

Note: MS*: Master (non-thesis) degree in Polymer and Fiber Eng. requires the student to work on a research project and finish the master program with 6 research credit hours and a final presentation (PFEN 7980 – Graduate project).

CURRENT PHD AND MASTER STUDENTS

Nima Alizadeh, Ph.D. Polymer and Fiber Engineering, “Interpenetrating Polymer Networks, started day: Fall 2016

Prutha Joshi, Ph.D. Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Polymer based on Polysaccharides, started day Fall 2016 

Archana Bansode, Ph.D. Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Polymers from Renewable resources, started day Fall 2017

Tripp Hinkle, Ph.D. Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Lignin based carbon fibers, started day Fall 2018

STUDENTS AWARDS

Archana Basode and John Hinkle, second place award for poster presentation on “Electrospun and wetspun lignin derived carbon fiber precursors for conductivity applications”presented at Thermal and Catalytic Sciences for Biofuels and Biobased Products Symposium 2018

Mathew Halvorson,Auburn University 2015, Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship Award, 2015. (Also listed under Awards), April 2015.

Patrick MarshallAward in poster competition,Preparation of alginate/chitosan fibers for biomedical applications, Patrick Marshall, Bernal Sibaja, Edward Culbertson, Alejandro Aguilar, Jennifer Parker, Leonardo de la Fuente and Maria L. Auad, Science and Technology Open House. Montgomery, Alabama, February 7-8, 2014.

Bernal SibajaAward in poster competition, Interpenetrating Polymer Networks from Biomaterials, Bernal Sibaja, Taylor Trippe, Ricardo Ballestero, Maria L. Auad, Science and Technology Open House. Montgomery, Alabama, February 7-8, 2014. 

Bernal SibajaGold award for graduate technical paper/oral competition, Interpenetrating Polymer Networks from Biomaterials, Bernal Sibaja, Taylor Trippe, Ricardo Ballestero, Maria L. Auad, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineering Conference. Indianapolis, Indiana, October 31, 2013. 

Christopher Ward, one of fourteen engineering graduate students chosen to present research at Auburn University’s Research Week, 2013.

Bernal SibajaDepartmental award in poster competition,Preparation of alginate/chitosan fibers for biomedical applications, Bernal Sibaja, Edward Culbertson, Alejandro Aguilar, Jennifer Parker, Leonardo de la Fuente and Maria L. Auad, Fall 2013 Graduate Engineering Research Showcase. Auburn University, Alabama, October 24, 2013. 

Christopher WardAwarded Third Place engineering presentation at Auburn University’s Research Week, Auburn University, 2013.

Christopher Ward, Awarded a Round 7 Competitive Alabama EPSCoR Graduate Research Scholars Fellowship, 2012 – 2013