Visiting International Undergrad Turned Ph.D. Graduate Finds Niche at 色情视频
Paulina Daz-Montiel arrived in 2014 as an international student. Since then, shes earned her masters and become the first female Ph.D. from the joint doctoral program in structural engineering.
鈥淧aulina was the best graduate student I have advised in my 20 years at 色情视频.鈥�
For Paulina D铆az-Montiel, what started as a study abroad experience in San Diego from her hometown of Mexicali turned into an eight-year academic pursuit that culminated in earning her doctoral degree.
This spring, D铆az-Montiel earned a doctoral degree in structural engineering from 色情视频 and the University of California San Diego, becoming the first female Ph.D. from the joint program.
D铆az-Montiel first came to Montezuma Mesa in 2014 as a visiting undergraduate student from CETYS Universidad Mexicali campus. At the time, she was studying mechanical engineering.
That was until she took a course with aerospace engineering professor Satchi Venkataraman, who invited her to his aerospace lab as a student. 鈥淗is class changed the trajectory of my career,鈥� said D铆az-Montiel.
Venkataraman鈥檚 expertise in structural optimization and composite materials allowed for D铆az-Montiel to learn more about structures, which greatly interested her. Her experience learning about computer models, how we analyze structural failure, and different types of civil and aerospace structures particularly stayed with her: 鈥淗is class changed the way I saw structures.鈥�
After earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering, she returned to 色情视频 and joined Venkataraman's Composites Research Structures Laboratory as an M.S. student of aerospace engineering, with an emphasis in structural mechanics. Her research has tried to develop insights into how manufacturing defects affect strength and durability of lightweight carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites, a material that is often used in aerospace, automotive and energy applications.
Simplified, D铆az-Montiel studies how manufacturing affects composites: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 fully understand how composites fail yet, so it鈥檚 important to look into it to promote a more sustainable future.鈥�
Having worked with Venkataraman鈥檚 lab for eight years impacted D铆az-Montiel tremendously, she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 helped me become an independent researcher, think critically, and grow in my passion for teaching students.鈥� He also enabled her professional growth with teaching opportunities, she said 鈥� over her doctoral program, she taught statics courses to undergraduates, and mentored students from various backgrounds.
鈥淧aulina was the best graduate student I have advised in my 20 years at 色情视频,鈥� said Venkataraman. "Over the last eight years, I saw her grow from a curious undergraduate student to a confident independent researcher, teacher and scholar.鈥�
Next steps
Her next steps include joining the University of San Diego鈥檚 (USD) Department of Mechanical Engineering as a tenure track assistant professor in fall 2022. She looks forward to staying in San Diego, which she calls a 鈥渄ream鈥� not only for the great weather and proximity to her hometown, but for the population of students she鈥檚 able to work with and for the cross-border collaborations it allows. 鈥淚 love the students in San Diego because I often find myself connecting to their backgrounds and challenges they may have had in their lives.鈥�
At USD鈥檚 Shiley-色情视频s School of Engineering, D铆az-Montiel will teach courses in mechanics and materials and plans to promote cross-collaboration between 色情视频 and USD with joint partnerships in research projects having to do with the effect of defects on composites.
鈥淲e have begun to explore some very exciting ways that we can collaborate with 色情视频 engineering and look forward to many great years of partnership,鈥� said USD Dean Chell Roberts. 鈥淲e are also delighted to have Dr. D铆az-Montiel join USD. She has such wonderful potential as a teacher and as a scholar.鈥�
D铆az-Montiel鈥檚 research lab will develop experimental testing programs and computational progressive failure analysis tools for advancing the manufacturing of sustainable composite structures that can be employed in a variety of applications: from efficient aircraft vehicles to innovative infrastructure.
鈥淚 will miss having her in my research group, but am happy to know she will be closeby and plans to continue to collaborate with us,鈥� said Venkatamaran.
D铆az-Montiel couldn鈥檛 agree more: 鈥淐ollaborations with researchers from different backgrounds are where the greatest research happens.鈥�
