AMUG awards scholarships to young talents in additive manufacturing

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) has announced this year’s scholarship recipients. Colleen Murray, an aerospace engineering instructor at the University of Maryland, is the recipient of the Randy Stevens Scholarship, which recognizes faculty in the field of additive manufacturing. Justin Levy, a mechanical engineering student at Ohio State University, was honored with the Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship for outstanding students. Both will attend the AMUG conference, which will be held in Chicago from March 30 to April 3, 2025.

The scholarships recognize professionals who contribute to the advancement of additive manufacturing through research and practice. Brent Griffith, co-chair of the AMUG Scholarship Committee and 2023 scholarship recipient, said, “The fact that it was a difficult selection for the Scholarship Committee shows that these scholarships are becoming increasingly coveted and competitive among highly motivated students and faculty in the additive manufacturing field.” Olga Ivanova, Ph.D., co-chair of the scholarship committee, added: “We had an excellent selection of applicants this year. The selection process was particularly difficult because the top two candidates for the Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship and the top three candidates for the Randy Stevens Scholarship received nearly identical scores from the committee, which made the final decision especially difficult.”

Murray holds a PhD in mechanical engineering and researches the mechanical properties of additively manufactured structures. Her work focuses on energy absorption mechanisms of 3D printed honeycomb structures to improve crash safety. She also develops curricula for mechatronic engineering programs. Dr. Norman Wereley, Minta Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, said in his letter of recommendation, “Dr. Murray is an outstanding communicator and an exceptional human being, leader, scientist, mentor and researcher. I can think of no one more deserving of the Randy Stevens Scholarship.” He added, “Dr. Murray was a truly gifted graduate student with outstanding abilities, and we were very fortunate to have Dr. Murray as a faculty member in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.”

Murray herself was optimistic about her participation in the AMUG conference: “I hope to take home valuable insights and encourage my colleagues to attend in the future. I’m looking forward to learning more about additive manufacturing and how it will help shape our future.” She also sees the event as an opportunity to network with experts on technologies, applications and future projects. Dr. Ivanova emphasized, “Dr. Murray is actively developing curriculum that would benefit from her interaction with industry leaders at the AMUG conference. Her research and work focus on practical applications and ensuring that innovative ideas can be effectively put into practice is what sets her apart.”

Levy works on the optimization of support structures in the laser powder bed process to reduce post-processing times. He conducts research at Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence and was involved in the installation of the first concrete 3D printer in Ohio. Additionally, he is committed to additive manufacturing in industry and education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he produced 3,000 face shields for medical staff and supported charitable 3D printing projects. Youping Gao, Founder, Chief Scientist and EVP of Castheon, stated in his recommendation letter: “Justin’s practical expertise in additive manufacturing processes and his tireless commitment to innovation make him an outstanding candidate for this scholarship.” He added: “Justin has consistently demonstrated exceptional initiative and versatility. I am confident that his dedication, technical aptitude and collaborative spirit will continue to serve him and all the organizations he supports well into the future.”

Levy’s character is evident in his statement about participating as an NSIN X-Force Fellow. He said, “Many younger students had never worked with 3D printing before. It was a real pleasure to mentor them and demonstrate the usefulness of this technology, especially when contributing to such a unique aircraft program.”

Brent Griffith said: “Justin has shown a passion for additive manufacturing and his work is testament to a desire to push the boundaries of what has been achieved before. He has already developed creative solutions to complex problems as a student, and we are sure he will continue to do so as he transitions into his professional life.”

With the scholarships, AMUG promotes outstanding talents who contribute to the further development of additive manufacturing. The award winners not only receive financial support, but also access to a network of experts to further advance their knowledge and research.