Microsystem Mechanics  
 
search

UMD   This Site






University of Maryland (UMD) Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. student and Clark Doctoral Fellow, James Sutherland, won first place winner in the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering’s (SAMPE) University Research Symposium, Ph.D. category. Sutherland shared the first place honor with Katie Burzynski, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Dayton.

The University Research Symposium is a competitive program that sponsors selected SAMPE student members to present their technical research results at the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX) each year. The best papers presented in each student category are awarded cash prizes, and winners in the Ph.D. category are then sponsored to present their papers at SAMPE conferences in Europe and Japan.

As part of his win, Sutherland will have the opportunity to travel to either Zurich, Switzerland or Tokyo, Japan to represent top research by SAMPE in the North America region and exhibit his work on an international stage.

Sutherland’s presentation, “Design and Modeling of Advanced Geometry Composite Proprotor Blades,” focuses on the development of novel rotor blade designs to enable faster flight for the next generation of tiltrotor aircraft.

The use of composite materials is critical for rotor blades to ensure a lightweight structure that still has the strength to endure high dynamic loads. His work was first presented at the local Baltimore-Washington SAMPE Chapter Symposium in April 2020 where he won first place. In addition to a cash prize, he was entered into the national research symposium held virtually in November where he ultimately won first place.

Sutherland currently works in the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center under the advisement of Associate Professor Anubhav Datta where he focuses on fabricating, modeling and testing rotor blades for the Maryland Tiltrotor Rig installed in the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel.

Before starting his research in June of 2017, Sutherland graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and mathematics. He was also the team leader for UMD’s first place winning submission, Elico, in the Vertical Flight Society’s (VFS) 2020 Student Design Competition.



Related Articles:
Seven Maryland Students Receive Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships
Alum Named Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at PennState
UMD Professor and Alum Among 2024 VFS Awardees
UMD Takes Second at VFS Design-Build-Vertical-Flight Competition
Seven UMD Students Receive Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships
UMD’s Chopra: A Driving Force in Rotorcraft Engineering
Chopra to Receive Prestigious AIAA Walter J. and Angeline H. Crichlow Trust Prize
A Maryland Built Lifetime
Aerospace Engineering Welcomes Umberto Saetti, Assistant Professor
UMD Hosts First High-Speed Rotorcraft Workshop

December 9, 2020


«Previous Story  

 

 

Current Headlines

When Vision Fails, a Suit Could Steer Pilots to Safety

Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month: Karenna Buco

UMD Student Awarded Wings Foundation Scholarship

UMD Eclipse Ballooning a Success

Seven Maryland Students Receive Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships

Eclipse Ballooning: Phenomenon Provides Rare Opportunities

Three UMD Students Receive SAMPE Leadership Awards

Alum Named Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering at PennState

UMD Professor and Alum Among 2024 VFS Awardees

Agents of Positive Change: Highlighting Women Maryland Engineers

 
 
Back to top  
ChBE Home Clark School Home UMD Home