Ebuka Ezugwu Awarded 2025-26 Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship

PhD student Ebuka Ezugwu has been awarded the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship (IDF) for the 2025-26 academic year. This prestigious fellowship recognizes an exceptional mid-career PhD student who engages in multi-disciplinary research. Ebuka’s work exemplifies this spirit by combining mechanical engineering, materials science, and polymer chemistry.

Under the guidance of Professor Susan Mantell, Ebuka is studying the long-term durability of plastic pipes used to replace lead pipes in municipal water systems. His research focuses on how polymer microstructures impact mechanical performance, ensuring that these pipes remain strong and flexible for over a century.

The fellowship allows Ebuka to work with Professor Frank Bates and leverage advanced characterization techniques available at the University’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). Ebuka is investigating how microscopic structural changes affect the pipe’s resistance to fracture over time. His findings could lead to more reliable, cost-effective materials for infrastructure projects nationwide.