Saeed Khaleghi, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Structural Engineering, received the SYENSQO Award for Best Student Paper in Composites at the American Society for Composites (ASC) 2025 Conference for his paper titled “Engineered Gaps in Thermoplastic Composite AFP Layups for Enhanced VBO Consolidation.” The award recognizes outstanding student research that advances the science and application of composite materials.
The ASC Annual Conference is a premier international forum that brings together researchers, engineers, industry leaders, and students to share the latest advances in composite materials, manufacturing, and structural applications. The 2025 conference featured technical sessions, student paper competitions, and industry engagement, providing an important platform for emerging researchers to present high-impact work and engage with leaders in the field.
Saeed conducted this award-winning research under the guidance of his advisor, Dr. Mehran Tehrani, whose mentorship was instrumental to the project’s success. He also collaborated closely with Joseph Kirchhoff, whose contributions supported the research effort. In recognition of his own academic achievements, Joseph was nominated by Dr. Tehrani for the ASC PhD Scholarship, further reflecting the strength of the research group’s presence at ASC 2025.
Saeed expressed gratitude to the many individuals and organizations that supported both the research and his participation in the conference. He thanked ONR and Collins Aerospace for funding the project, the National Science Foundation (NSF) for providing a travel award that made it possible for him to attend and present at the conference, and Dr. Paulina Díaz-Montiel for her assistance and coordination in securing that support.
Presenting his work at ASC 2025 alongside leading researchers and industry experts was an inspiring experience for Saeed. He noted that receiving the SYENSQO Award is both an honor and a strong motivation to continue contributing impactful research to the evolving field of composite materials.
