Olesya Zhupanska

Dr. Olesya Zhupanska is a Professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona, where she holds a faculty position and is a member of the Graduate Faculty. Her research focuses on the mechanics of composite materials, especially under extreme multi-field conditions involving mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic loads.

Education:

• PhD in Mechanics of Solids and Applied Mathematics, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, 2000
• BS/MS in Mechanics and Applied Mathematics (with Highest Honors), Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, 1996

Her research interests span mechanics of composites, impact and damage, micromechanics, multi-field effects, and structural health monitoring, with applications in aerospace, wind energy, and smart materials. She has made significant contributions to understanding lightning strike damage, electrified composites, and thermostructural response of advanced materials. Her work integrates experimental, analytical, and computational methods to solve complex engineering problems.

The 15 most recent publications highlight a strong trend in composite materials under electrical and thermal loads, with a focus on damage mechanisms, contact mechanics, and predictive modeling. Her research bridges mechanics, materials science, and electromagnetics, with increasing integration of machine learning for damage detection. Applications span aerospace structures, hypersonic vehicles, and wind turbine blades.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• DARPA Young Faculty Award (2011)
• Elsevier Young Composites Researcher Award (2008)
• ASME/Boeing Structures & Materials Award (2007)
• Multiple ASC Best Paper Awards
• National Research Council Senior Research Associateship Award (2022, 2015)
• Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowships (multiple years)
• Woman of Impact Award, University of Arizona (2022)
• Fellow, ASME
• Associate Fellow, AIAA
• ASME Dedicated Service Award (2023)

Dr. Zhupanska has advised numerous graduate students, many of whom have won prestigious awards such as the DoD SMART Scholarship and NASA Fellowships. Her research has been funded by DARPA, NSF, NASA, AFOSR, AFRL, and industry partners. She has served on technical review boards including ARL and actively promotes engineering education and inclusion through NSF-funded initiatives.

She holds leadership roles in professional societies, currently serving as President of the American Society for Composites (ASC) and as a member of the ASME IMECE Steering Committee Senate. She also serves as a Topic Editor for Composites and Advanced Materials and on the editorial board of Applied Composite Materials.