UNT engineering student receives the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship award. May 2009, Denton, TX
Jeff Helstad, an undergraduate student in the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Department, was awarded the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from the Naval Postgraduate School and the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).
The award consists of a $25,000 stipend per year for 2 years, and option of pursuing a master’s degree upon receiving the bachelor’s, with continued benefits. It also includes full tuition, $1,000 per year book allowance, $1,200 health insurance, travel and moving expenses, and choice of job placement at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) relevant to Helstad’s interests and goals.
“I am honored that this scholarship award will bring more recognition to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and to UNT.” Said Helstad. “The high quality of its laboratories, the mentoring and personal attention to students by its faculty, and its close relationship with industry, have resulted in a first class atmosphere in the department.” Upon graduation Helstad plans to do research on metal-ceramic and ceramic-ceramic hybrids for use in thermal, mechanical, lubricious, or corrosive resistant applications.
As a summer intern, Helstad worked with Dr. Thomas Scharf on a critical problem in trying to mitigate friction and wear (field of tribology) at high interfacial temperatures in moving mechanical assemblies, such as rolling element bearings, bushings and gun barrels.
“The SMART scholarship will enable Jeff to work future summers at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH on related thermal protection management issues employing hybrid composites, such as ceramic infiltrated carbon-carbon composites and thermal barrier coating composites.” Said Scharf. “Jeff’s research in these areas will have synergy with UNT’s Institute for Science and Engineering Simulation (ISES) program supported by the AFRL.”
Dr. Srinivasan Srivilliputhur, also an assistant professor of materials science and engineering and one of Helstad’s mentors stated, “materials research would immensely benefit from the synergy provided by Helstad’s background in the US military.”
The Materials Science and Engineering Department may receive additional funding under ISES to help Helstad complete his senior research project. The research will be directly relevant to what he will be doing when he joins the AFRL.
