NSF CAREER Awards Recognize Promising Teacher/Scholars
Asst. Professor Valeria La Saponara
Valeria La Saponara, assistant professor in mechanical and aeronautical engineering, and Hao Chen, assistant professor in computer science, recently received National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Awards. The prestigious five-year NSF award supports the early career development activities of teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the mission of their institution. College of Engineering (CoE) faculty are recognized every year with this grant that serves as an important indicator of the quality of the College’s young faculty as well as the promise they represent for the future of engineering research and teaching at UC Davis.
La Saponara and her students will study the design, manufacturing, modeling and monitoring of composite biostable materials – substances that offer strength and stiffness along with low weight and maintenance, qualities that are particularly useful in aerospace, marine, automotive and civil engineering structures.
Asst. Professor Hao Chen
Hao Chen and his students have discovered serious vulnerabilities in cellular communications whereby hackers could disable the system at its most vulnerable point, the battery power that makes these devices portable. The NSF grant will support research into detection and prevention of such attacks, as well as the search for other potential vulnerabilities in cellular communications.