Wade Shipley
Materials Science and Engineering
- Profile
Profile
I grew up in North County San Diego, though my family is mostly from the Midwest. Growing up, my father was a construction worker and I enjoyed seeing his job sites and working on building projects with him. I think working with my father was important for building a good work ethic and inspiring me to choose engineering. I completed my undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at California State University Long Beach, with my research there focusing on the mechanical and electrical properties of polymer composite materials. Composite materials are fascinating because they are highly customizable for specific applications and allow a wider range of properties than otherwise available. In this modern world there is a great need to develop advanced materials in collaboration with many disciplines, which is a very exciting prospect as my interests cover a broad array of topics. At UCSD, I will be studying the optical and mechanical properties of self-assembled nanocomposites under the supervision of both Dr. Tao and Dr. Boechler.