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Dr. Ruschel specializes in mechanics of materials, mechanical design and analysis, mechanical testing, and finite element analysis (FEA). She also has experience with materials characterization, 3D printing techniques, and digital image correlation. Her breadth of experience enables her to utilize both experimental and theoretical approaches to solve complex engineering problems in a wide range of industries.

Dr. Ruschel received her Ph.D. in Materials from University of California, Santa Barbara, where her research focused on tailoring the mechanical response of polymer lattices and foams to enhance their energy absorbing properties. This work involved designing, characterizing, and experimentally testing candidate structures as well as using finite element simulations to model their response to both quasi-static and dynamic loadings. Her research introduced multi-material design strategies for tuning the balance between high strength and toughness in lattice structures and identified methods for controlling the nonlinear response of foams. While at UCSB, Dr. Ruschel also was a McNair Scholars mentor and co-founded the Graduate Student Consulting Club.