I joined the faculty of UVA Engineering for the opportunities to interact with students in the classroom and lab, to collaborate with faculty in MSE, MAE and SEAS, and to participate in the Rolls-Royce University Technology Center on Advanced Material Systems.

Elizabeth J. Opila Professor

Graduate Students

  • Lilly Balderson

    Lilly Balderson

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering
    B.S. - Chemistry - Virginia Commonwealth University 2021

    Research: Additive Manufacturing of SiC Ceramic Turbines for Aerospace Applications

  • Photo of Lauren Bowling

    Lauren Bowling

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering

    M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering - University of Virginia 2024

    B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering - Michigan Technological University 2021 

    Research: Understanding the compositional effects and refractory complex oxide formation on the oxidation behavior of refractory alloys

  • Charlie Brandenburg

    Charlie Brandenburg

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering
    B.S. - Materials Engineering - Iowa State University 2019

    Research: Oxidation of Refractory Multi-Principal Element Alloys

  • Photo of Matt Caulfield

    Matthew Caufield

    Ph.D. Candidate - Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
    B.S. - Engineering - James Madison University 2023

    Research: Recession phenomena of environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) under high-temperature water vapor exposure conditions for aerospace applications.

    Wilsdorf Hall A026

    (703) 755 5330

  • Laura Doumaux

    Laura Doumaux

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering 
    B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering - University of Washington 2022 

    Research: Multi-component rare earth environmental barrier coatings for extreme environments

  • Imoen

    Imoen Hawthorne

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering
    B.S. - Corrosion Engineering - University of Akron 2022

    Research: Viability of Xenotime-type Rare Earth Orthophosphates as High-Temperature Environmental Barrier Coatings

  • Sarah Beth

    Sarah Beth Holles

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering
    B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering - Michigan State University 2022

    Research: Intermediate temperature oxidation and mechanical properties in varying environments of SiC/BN/SiC CMC

  • Photo of Homa Keshmiri

    Homa Keshmiri

    Ph.D. Student - University of Virginia

    B.S. - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering - University of Maryland, College Park 2025

    Research: Design of environmental barrier coatings(EBCs) bond coats for elevated high-temperature steam exposure in aerospace applications

  • Catherine Lynch

    Catherine Lynch

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering 
    B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering - Alfred University 2022

    Research: Understanding the Mechanistic Connections of Aqueous Corrosion and High-Temperature Oxidation Through the Third Element Effect

  • Cameron

    Cameron Miller

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering
    B.S. - Chemistry - University of Virginia

  • Sarah Purdy

    Ph.D. Student - Materials Science and Engineering

  • Seungyun Ryu

    Ph.D Student - Materials Science and Engineering

  • Photo of Doyle Weishar

    Doyle Weishar

    Ph.D. Candidate - Materials Science and Engineering

    B.S. - Physics - William and Mary 2021

Postdoctoral Researchers

Undergraduate Students

  • Cassie Urann

    Materials Science Class of 2028