Riley initially chose materials science because she was interested in the intersection of physics, chemistry and engineering, and the opportunity to develop and improve materials was appealing to her. During her undergraduate experience, she spent two years research oxide nuclear fuels in the Advanced Materials Laboratory (AML). Her research connected her with a summer internship at Oakridge National Laboratory (ORNL). These experiences led to a co-authored publication in the International Journal of Ceramic Engineer & Science, titled “Ball-on-ring test validation for equiaxial flexural strength testing of engineered ceramics.” She has also had the opportunity to present research posters at the following events & conferences:
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- 2019 NESLS Poster Session at ORNL in Oakridge, TN
- 2019 MS&T in Portland, OR
- 2020 INL Day at the Idaho Capitol
- 2020 Undergraduate Research Showcase in Boise
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In addition to her research experiences, Riley worked as an Introduction to Materials Laboratory Learning Assistant. She has held leadership positions in the Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Society of Women Engineers clubs. She is a member of the American Ceramic Society’s President’s Council of Students Advisors and participated in K-12 STEM outreach.
Within in the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSMSE), she has received multiple accolades, including 2020 Outstanding Junior Engineering Student, 2020 MSMSE Undergraduate Service Award, 2021 MSMSE Undergraduate Student of the Year, and 2021 COEN Undergraduate Research Scholar Designation.
Riley’s positive attitude, attention to detail, and hard work have made her an integral part of the AML. The skills and experience she gained in the AML enabled her to secure a internship as a Ceramics Process Engineer at QTI Sensing Solutions in August 2020. She will be staying on full-time at QTI after graduation to work on processing and development of thermistors. Congratulations Riley!
