Biography

Professional Preparation

2001: Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
1997: M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
1994: B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, summa cum laude, Universita’ degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy

Appointments

07/2022-present: Vice Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis
07/2017-present: Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis
07/2011-06/2017: Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis
07/2005-06/2011: Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis
8/2002-06/2005: Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah
8/2001-8/2002: Course Instructor for Computational Modeling for Civil and Environmental Engineers, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
6/1994-7/1996: Research Fellow, Microgravity Advanced Research and Support (MARS) Center, Naples, Italy

Fellowships, Honors, Awards

Co-winner of 3rd place for research, 2023 Future is Fungi International Award, with Christina Cogdell and Alejandra Ruiz (Team MycoTextiles Futures)
2022 Citations of Excellence recipient of the Faculty/Staff Partnership Award for collaborating on the College of Engineering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (selected by UC Davis Staff Assembly; honor shared with the entire DEI committee)
2021 Lab Safety Award of the College of Engineering, UC Davis (Fall 2021), showcased on https://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/units/ehs/research/laboratory/safety-awards/la-saponara
Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (December 2018)
Chair of the Executive Committee of the Materials Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 2017/2018. Was a member of the Executive Committee from 2014, rotating through a number of officer positions, all the way to Chair of the Division.
Visiting professor fellowship, Universita’ La Sapienza (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy), 2015/2016, Category A (outstanding researchers/professors with excellent track-record and international recognition). My ranking was #1 for the Faculty of Engineering.
US National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2007-2012
Luther Long III Award, Georgia Tech (USA), 2001-2002 for excellence in mechanics
Amelia Earhart International Award, 2000-2001 and 1997-1998
Clare Booth Luce Fellowship (USA), 1998-2001
Georgia Tech Women’s Forum Award (USA), 1998
Fellowship from the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, for graduate studies in United States, 1996-1997

Other Professional Activities

Co-founder (with Rachael Fulp-Cooke, MPH) and Chief Technology Officer of a start-up focused on the design of safer bicycle helmets for hard-to-fit children (05/2016-12/2019).

Professional Memberships

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)