Opila Group News
News and updates from the Advanced High Temperature Materials Research Group, led by Dr. Beth Opila.
Congratulations to Niquana on successful defense of her PhD proposal!
July 08, 2023Niquana successfully defended her PhD proposal entitled "Design of Ultra High Temperature Ceramics for Oxidation Resistance." Nice job!
EXTREME workshop in Aachen Germany
June 03, 2023Beth and group members Niquana, Clark, Connor, Lilly, Sarah Beth, Laura, and Catherine traveled to RWTH University, Aachen to participate in an EXTREME workshop, May 22-26. Hands on learning about recycling of electronic waste materials. We had a fabulous time.
Congratulations Graduates!
May 28, 2023Congratulations to Drs. Coleman Tolliver and Kristyn Ardrey on their PhD graduation day - We are looking forward to the high impact work you will do "out in the real world!" Congratulations also to Michael Richwine on his BS degree from the Aero Engineering Department. Michael has been an undergraduate researcher in our lab since 2021. Best wishes for your career at Rolls-Royce.
Congratulations Cameron
May 28, 2023Congratulations to Cameron on the successful defense of his PhD proposal entitled "High Entropy Rare-Earth Monosilicate Interactions with Calcium Magnesium Aluminosilicate." Great job! We are looking forward to all the great research you will perform on the way to your PhD.
Kristyn defends her PhD dissertation
May 28, 2023Congratulations to Kristyn on the successful defense of her PhD dissertation entitled "Thermochemical Degradation of Rare Earth-Based Environmental Barrier Coatings." Awesome job!
Coleman defends his PhD thesis
May 28, 2023Congratulations to Coleman for the successful defense of his PhD thesis entitled "Exploring the aqueous dissolution precipitation mechanism of Ca-Si-Na-O containing reactants to form crystalline calcium silicate hydrates in carbonated environments." Great work!
VSGC Awards for Morgan, Pádraigín, Connor
May 28, 2023Congratulations to Morgan, Pádraigín, and Connor on your Virginia Space Grant Consortium Fellowships! Morgan received an undergraduate award for her proposed work studying high temperature properties of protective complex oxides, Pádraigín received a graduate award for her proposed work on rare earth phosphate-based environmental barrrier coatings, and Connor's graduate fellowship was renewed for a second year. Connor studies high temperature oxidation of refractory metals and carbides in molecular and dissociated oxygen. We look forward to your cutting edge research results.
Congratulations to Clark
April 08, 2023Congrats to Clark on his recent successful PhD Proposal Defense. Clark's dissertation topic is "Understanding CMAS Reaction Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies." We look forward to the great results you will be getting in the next year as you complete your PhD research.
Welcome Sandamal!
April 08, 2023Sandamal joins us as a post doctoral research associate from NC State where he recently defended his PhD on corrosion behavior of high-energy ball-milled aluminum vandium alloys Sandamal wil be exploring the world of high temperature corrosion in his new role.
Opila group presence at MS&T 2022
December 09, 2022
Eleven current and former grad students from the Opila group attended or gave presentations at MS&T 2022, Pittsburgh, PA. Nice showing, Clark, Lilly, Mackenzie, Lavina, Charlie, Kristyn, Connor, and Cameron. Not pictured, but also giving presentations, Eric and Niquana.