| 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 Marshall, Award 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 Sibaja, Award 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 Sibaja, Gold 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 Sibaja, Departmental 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 Ward, Awarded 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