Valeria La Saponara
Valeria La Saponara (born 1970)[1] is an Italian-American mechanical and aerospace engineer whose research studies mycelium-based materials[2] and the durability of biodegradable fiber-reinforced composite materials, particularly for applications in aerospace and in wind energy.[3] She is a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Davis.[4]
Education and career
La Saponara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1994 in aerospace engineering from the University of Naples Federico II[5]. After continued work at the MARS Center, an aerospace contractor in Naples. She laster completed a Master of Science and a Ph. D. and a 2021 in aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.[6]
Following her doctoral studies, La Saponara held academic appointments in mechanical engineering, including a faculty position at the University of Utah.[6] In 2005, she joined the University of California, Davis, where she held appointments as assistant professor, associate professor, and professor.[5]
Research
La Saponara's research centers on the applied mechanics of composite materials, with particular emphasis on fiber-reinforced polymer composites, material degradation, and structural performance.[6] Her work also includes studies of smart composite systems and advanced materials.
Recognition
La Saponara received several academic and research awards, including a National Space Foundation CAREER Award.[5] She was also recognized through fellowships, including being a ASME Fellow in 2018.[7]
References
- ↑ Birth year from Library of Congress catalog entry, retrieved 2023-09-02
- ↑ Fergesen, Jennifer (May 9, 2022), "The Might of Mycelium: How fungi is changing food, agriculture and the environment in the Capital Region", Comstock's magazine, retrieved 2023-09-02
- ↑ Knox, Sharon Campbell (June 1, 2023), "Making wind power even greener", University of California News, retrieved 2023-09-02
- ↑ "Valeria La Saponara", Directory, UC Davis Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, January 14, 2019, retrieved 2023-09-02
- 1 2 3 "Valeria La Saponara". CITRIS and the Banatao Institute. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- 1 2 3 "Valeria LaSaponara | REVEALS". reveals.gatech.edu. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- ↑ All Fellows (PDF), American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2022, retrieved 2023-09-02
- 1970 births
- Living people
- Italian emigrants to the United States
- Italian mechanical engineers
- Italian aerospace engineers
- 21st-century Italian women engineers
- 21st-century Italian engineers
- American aerospace engineers
- American women engineers
- University of Naples Federico II alumni
- Georgia Tech alumni
- University of Utah faculty
- University of California, Davis faculty
- Fellows of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- 21st-century American mechanical engineers