Zoubeida Ounaies

Zoubeida Ounaies is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, affiliated with the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program (IGDP) in Materials Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on multifunctional materials, particularly the development of smart polymers and nanocomposites integrating mechanical, electrical, and chemical functionalities. She leads the Electro-Mechanical Composites Laboratory (EMCL), exploring applications in energy systems, sensors, and advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Ounaies' work emphasizes multi-field processing (electric, magnetic, thermal) to engineer materials with tailored properties for actuation, energy harvesting, and biomedical devices. Her contributions include advancements in magnetoactive elastomers, triboelectric nanogenerators, and 3D-printed shape-memory composites. She holds awards such as the ALP Fellow and SPIE Senior Membership, reflecting her impact in optics and photonics.

Her research has produced numerous publications on topics like origami-inspired smart structures, self-folding actuators, and neutron detection composites. Ounaies collaborates across disciplines, addressing challenges in sustainable energy, structural adaptability, and biomedical safety through innovative material systems.