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Madelyn Madrigal Camacho

mmadr012@ucr.edu

FAVE SUPERHERO: Sailor Moon
DEGREE TYPE: PhD
PROGRAM: Mechanical Engineering
YEAR IN PROGRAM: 2nd year
PROGRAM START DATE: September 2018

RESEARCH FOCUS:

Developing alloys tailored for metal additive manufacturing.

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH:

The field of metal additive manufacturing (MAM) is rapidly advancing; however, it faces several challenges including the development and production of new alloy systems and powder composite manufacturing methods. Previous studies have investigated metal matrix composites produced by selective laser melting (SLM) which resulted in finer grains, improved hardness, and tensile strength due to the homogeneous distribution of reinforcement particles. Madelyn’s research investigates the viability of ball milling and laser sintering for CoCr composites reinforced by WC or SiC dispersoids. The particle size, flowability, microstructure, and composition of the CoCr-WC and CoCr-SiC powders are compared with post sintered samples to probe the microstructural evolution during laser processing. The observations point to the applicability of high energy ball milling as a platform for alloy and composite design for MAM.

CURRENT GROUPS:

Mathaudhu Research Group and C-SAMBA Research Group

OTHER GROUPS/ORGS/CLUBS:

AWARDS:

  • National Science Foundation Student Conference Grant: PowderMet & AMPM (2019)
  • University of California, Riverside Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship (2019)

PRESENTATION TITLES:

(T for talk, P for Poster)

  • (T,P) Synthesis of Mo2C-Graphite composite by high energy ball milling. PowderMet 2019
  • (P) Synthesis of Carbon-reinforced Mo2C-graphite Composites by High-energy Ball Milling. IMRC 2017

CONFERENCES ATTENDED:  (A)/Presented at (T for talk, P for poster)

  • PowderMet & AMPM (2019)
  • International Materials Research Congress (IMRC) 2017
  • Surface and Nanostructured Materials Symposium Argentina (2016)

PAPERS:

(P for published, I for in review, D for draft)

  • (P) M. Madrigal-Camacho, A. R. Vilchis-Nestor, M. Camacho-Lopez, M. A. Camacho-Lopez, Synthesis of MoC@Graphite NPs by short and ultra-short pulses laser ablation in toluene under
    N2 atmosphere. Diamond & Related Materials, 82 (2018) 63–69.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2017.12.019.
  • (I)Synthesis of Mo2C-graphite composite by high-energy ball milling

REASONS FOR GRAD SCHOOL:

The most important reason why I am studying for a Ph.D. degree is because of my family and Costa Rica, I want to acquire the best education to request better job opportunities to help my family and also to make contributions in my country and society in my field of expertise. Other important reasons that motivate me every day are: to improve my professional skills, as well as the personal development that I will experience and the valuable connections that I will make with other graduate students, academics and industry experts.

UNDERGRAD SCHOOL:

Bachelor’s degree at Instituto Tencnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR) Master’s degree at Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM)

UNDERGRAD PROGRAM:

Materials Engineering with emphasis in Metallurgy (BS) Materials Science (MS)

UNDERGRAD RESEARCH:

Development of an irreversible thermochromic additive in Flexo UV ink for use in industrial labels (Bachelor’s Thesis Project) MoC@Graphite NPs: Synthesis by Laser Ablation and Study of its Oxidation Resistance (Master’s Thesis Project).

INTERNSHIPS:

Mathaudhu Research group, UCR, Jan-July 2017

WORK EXPERIENCE:

  • Quality Engineering, Microvention Terumo, Alajuela, Costa Rica (Jan-Sept 2018) Professor of Nanotechnology Technician, ITCR, Costa Rica (Aug 2014 – Jun 2015)
  • Researcher at Laboratory of Nanotechnology, ITCR, Costa Rica (Jan 2014 – July 2015) Research Assistant at Laboratory of Nanotechnology, ITCR, Costa Rica (May 2012 – Dec 2014)

AWARDS:

  • Centro Latinoamericano de Formación Interdisciplinaria CELFI Grant, Surface and Nanostructured Materials Symposium Argentina (2016)
  • CONACYT-Becas Mixtas (2017)
  • CONACYT-Government of Mexico Scholarship (2015-2017) 4. Merit scholarship for excellent academic performance, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (2011-2015)

PREVIOUS GROUPS:

Laboratory of Nanotechnology, ITCR, Costa Rica

PRESENTATIONS/CONFERENCES ATTENDED:

  • (P) Synthesis of MoC@graphite Nanoparticles by Ablation with Short and Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Toluene. IMRC 2017
  • (P) Synthesis of MoSiB alloy by laser ablation. Chemistry Symposium UAEM_UNAM 2017
  • (P) Synthesis of Mo and Mo/MoC Nanoparticles by laser ablation of short pulses. Surface and Nanostructured Materials Symposium Argentina (2016)

REASONS FOR ENGINEERING:

My motivation to become an engineer arises from the fact that my father never had the opportunity to study, he only attended primary school and his passion for engineering, especially for metallurgy, made me decide to study Materials Engineering. He always encouraged me to learn about formulas, chemistry and physics. That’s why I wanted to acquire logical thinking and critical analysis skills to solve problems and understand the chemistry and properties behind different materials.

CAREER ASPIRATIONS:

I would like to work in R&D or in laboratories working in materials science.