61: From Volcanic Ash to Lunar Dust: Materials Engineering at NASA (ft. Dr. Valerie Wiesner)

Composite materials are comprised of at least two parts: the reinforcement, which provides special mechanical properties such as stiffness or strength, and the matrix material, which holds everything together. Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are a special type of composite material in which both the reinforcement (refractory fibers) and matrix material are ceramics. In some cases, the same kind of ceramic is used for both parts of the structure, and additional secondary fibers may also be included.   Check out our MSE Company Database and free professional development guide for materials scientists and engineers!   In today’s episode, Dr. Valerie Wiesner, a Research Materials Engineer at NASA, shares her research about high temperature ceramics with the goal of making space travel more routine, as well as her experiences working in both aeronautics and space research within NASA.   In this conversation, we discuss:   🔹️How did Valerie find out that getting a PhD was right for her, and what role did it play in her getting a job at NASA. 🔹️What CMCs are, and what characteristics make them preferred for aerospace applications. 🔹️What are the consequences if particulates are ingested into aircraft engines, and how to address or minimize those consequences. 🔹️How a ceramic coating would be applied to a part of the spacecraft. 🔹️What role materials engineering plays in helping NASA achieve a sustainable lunar mission. 🔹️ The main challenges Valerie has faced as a Research Materials Engineer at NASA, and how have they aided her personal growth. 🔹️ Advice for a young person who plans to pursue an MSE career in the aerospace industry.   We hope you enjoy the episode! And as always, let us know what topics you’d like us to cover next! Learn more about our MSE Career Development Online Course, which includes more industry-specific information and advice.   Join our Discord community! You can meet other passionate materials scientists and engineers from around the world, discuss the latest breakthroughs in MSE, share materials-related memes, and get career advice from experts in the field.    Also, check out our MSE-themed merchandise if you want to support us or simply show off your love of materials science!   For shorter segments and full video podcasts, subscribe to our channel on YouTube. For bloopers, audiograms, and interesting materials science articles, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Feel free to message us on our social media platforms if you have any feedback or recommendations for future episodes, or email us directly at [email protected]. Finally, reach out to David Yeh and Punith Upadhya on LinkedIn if you'd like to chat about the latest breakthroughs in MSE!   Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed by either guests or hosts in this show are their own, and do not represent the opinions of the companies or organizations with which they are affiliated.   #materialsscience #aerospace #ceramic #nasa