NC State mechanical engineering student receives Goldwater Scholarship

James Turner, a Park Scholar and a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and Spanish language and literature at North Carolina State University, is a recipient of a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for the 2014-2015 year.

Turner was selected from a field of mathematics, science and engineering students nominated by the faculties of colleges and universities nationwide. The one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

The scholarship program, which honors the late United States Senator Barry M. Goldwater, was designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering.

Turner’s selection brings the total number of Goldwater Scholars at NC State to 45.

Turner is conducting research on developing self-folding structures made out of a prestrained polymer substrate with silver nanowire film as a heat source. Potential applications include minimally invasive heart stents that expand automatically when in place and automatically folding shelters for disaster relief areas.

Turner is particularly interested in exploring dynamics and mechanical simulation. “I would also like to integrate computer programming as a component in my future research,” says Turner.

Turner has worked in the laboratory of Dr. Yong Zhu, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State. In addition to Zhu, Turner’s references included Dr. Jeffrey Eischen, another associate professor in the Department, and Dr. Timothy Shafer, a lead researcher at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Turner plans to attend graduate school to complete his master’s and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering.