Harry Pierson, assistant professor of industrial engineering, has been appointed as a fellow in the 2017 Air Force Research Lab Summer Faculty Fellowship Program at AFRL-Materials and Manufacturing.

The U.S. Air Force Research Lab Summer Faculty Fellowship Program offers hands-on exposure to Air Force research challenges through 8- to 12-week research residencies at participating Air Force research facilities for full-time science, mathematics, and engineering faculty at U.S. colleges and universities.

Pierson will be working with a research team at the Air Force Research Lab investigating the use of fiber-reinforced thermosetting polymers to create 3D printed carbon fiber structures. The process has great potential in the aerospace industry for producing low-volume or customized components. For the Air Force, it offers the ability to maintain legacy weapon systems with lower cost and reduced downtime.

"This is a great opportunity for Dr. Pierson to continue to build strong research relationships within the Air Force Research Laboratories.  It will also enable him to get a better understanding of the material and manufacturing research challenges being faced within the Department of Defense community," said Ed Pohl, head of the Industrial Engineering Department.

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate develops materials, processes, and advanced manufacturing technologies for aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and ground-based systems and their structural, electronic and optical components. Air Force product centers, logistic centers, and operating commands rely on the directorate's expertise in materials, nondestructive inspection, systems support, and advanced manufacturing methods to solve system, expeditionary deployment, and operational challenges.

The program is sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and is administered by Systems Plus, which provides the oversight and administrative structure for the selection and appointment of applicants.