Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. student Olivia Draughn, member of the Multiscale Mechanics & Materials Lab, was selected for the prestigious Rickover Fellowship in Nuclear Engineering. This fellowship helps prepare students for roles in naval nuclear propulsion and supports the advance of fission energy development through research. The Fellowship targets critical technical fields, including reactor physics, nuclear materials science and engineering, radiation shielding technology, thermal hydraulics, computational fluid dynamics, acoustic technology, artificial intelligence technology, quantum computing, and fracture mechanics. Awardees receive a stipend, travel support, and other support.
Draughn will be working at the intersection of computational materials science and solid mechanics, with a focus on how microstructural features influence the performance of engineering materials. This research aims to connect grain-scale physics to macroscopic behavior, improving predictive models of deformation and failure, particularly in additively manufactured materials.
“What excites me most about this research is the direct link between computational modeling and real-world engineering challenges,” said Draughn. “This work allows me to not only advance fundamental science, but also contribute to solving high-impact problems where material performance and reliability are critical.”
During her undergraduate studies, Draughn was actively developing models to capture structural response of additively manufactured components. While those early models represented overall behavior well, they often fell short in explaining experimentally observed failure driven by localized material effects. That gap motivated Draughn to shift her focus toward understanding how underlying materials behavior governs mechanical performance.
“I see this work having a broad impact across engineering applications where material reliability is critical,” said Draughn, “particularly in energy and defense systems. By advancing our understanding of deformation and failure mechanisms across length scales, this research can improve the safety, longevity, and performance of critical materials in demanding environments.”
The Rickover Fellowship drew Draughn’s attention because of its commitment to advancing science in service of real-world impact. It offers a unique opportunity to develop meaningful research alongside experts working on critical national challenges.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program,” said Draughn. “It is inspiring to work in an environment shaped by generations of impactful research and I look forward to contributing to that legacy.”