"In our junior year, Materials Science and Engineering students are involved in a two-semester lab course.  The first semester covers mechanical properties of materials, such as strength, elasticity, and fracture mechanics.  Here, Nicholas Williams and I are examining a fractured piece of metal that had been subjected to Charpie testing under a scanning electron microscope to inspect its fracture characteristics.  By seeing the microscopic structure of a damaged material, we can better understand the processes by which a material undergoes different types of fracture.  I have been fortunate to enjoy pursuing independent research under a faculty advisor for the past two years.  I have been able to develop a field of study that addresses my own interests as a student and researcher, enabling me to see a project through from its inception to its completion and presentation."

Armen Melikian is a member of the class of 2012.  He is from San Francisco, CA.