Florence Sanchez

Florence Sanchez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University. She also serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate Education within the School of Engineering. Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to address challenges in infrastructure materials' durability, resilience, and sustainability.

Dr. Sanchez's educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering (Waste Sciences & Techniques) from the Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Lyon (INSA).

Her research focuses on nanoscale interactions, chemo-mechanical behavior of cement-based composites, and the application of nanotechnology to enhance concrete materials. Key areas include:

• Long-term performance of infrastructure materials
• Mechanical/chemical/energy responses at material interfaces
• 3D printing of construction materials
• Coupled chemo-transport-mechanical modeling
• Nanoscale interfacial dynamics in heterogeneous systems

Her publications emphasize the use of nanotechnology and molecular dynamics to study cement-based materials, particularly focusing on carbon nanofibers and their effects on structural and chemical properties. Recent work includes studies on re-agglomeration and clustering of nanofibers in cement matrices, as well as reviews on nanotechnology applications in concrete. Earlier research explored functionalized graphitic structures and their interactions with calcium-based solutions, highlighting her long-standing interest in multiscale material behavior.

Professor Sanchez is the recipient of the NSF CAREER award (2006). Her professional service includes roles such as Chair of the American Ceramic Society’s Cements Division (2009–2010), NSF-funded workshop leadership (2012 and 2015), and membership in critical committees like the Transportation Research Board Task Force on Nanotechnology-Based Concrete Materials and the ACI Materials Science of Concrete committee.

She has spearheaded NSF-funded initiatives and currently serves as an Associate Editor for the ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering. Her contributions span academic leadership, research innovation, and national/international collaboration in engineering and nanotechnology sectors.