Shen Wang, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, was awarded a 2022 academic scholarship from the Society of Tribologists & Lubrication Engineers (STLE) Philadelphia Section.
Wang is conducting numerical research in MechE Professor Natasha Vermaak’s group at the intersection of interface mechanics and the topological and directional design of soil-structure interactions. The project, which has been supported through a Lehigh Faculty Innovation Grant, has geotechnical applications (e.g., foundations for offshore wind turbines) and is also a collaboration with Muhannad Suleiman, a professor of geotechnical engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The STLE mission is to advance the science of tribology and the practice of lubrication engineering in order to foster innovation, improve the performance of equipment and products, conserve resources, and protect the environment. The STLE Philadelphia Section Scholarship Award is given to undergraduate (sophomores or above) or graduate students pursuing a degree in the lubrication sciences, tribology, physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, or similar studies with a GPA of 3.0 or above. The award is made possible through fundraising from corporate and individual donors. Awardees are provided professional development opportunities through an invitation to network and present their research at a Philadelphia STLE Section Meeting.
The awardees are also profiled in the STLE magazine, Tribology and Lubrication Technology.