Derbyshire receives National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Lucas Derbyshire, PhD student in Professor Pavana Prahakar‘s group, has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship. This award is sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Army Research Office, and the Office of Naval Research.

Derbyshire was chosen from a pool of 5615 applicants this year for his outstanding achievements in STEM. His PhD research investigates how weave architecture and material hybridization influence the damage tolerance and long-term durability of woven composites, which are materials essential to modern high-performance structures. It represents a deep dive into understanding the foundational mechanics of woven composites in multi-physics environments, where mechanical loading, environmental exposure, and chemical interactions occur simultaneously. Through integrated mechanical testing, environmental conditioning, chemical characterization, and computational modeling, this research examines how these materials respond to the combined environmental and mechanical stresses encountered in real-world service conditions.

This work aims to generate fundamental insights that enable the design of lighter, more durable composite structures with enhanced performance and extended service lives. By advancing our understanding of composite behavior under realistic operating conditions, the research supports broader efforts to reduce energy consumption, minimize material waste, and decrease maintenance requirements across aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, and other advanced engineering sectors.

Derbyshire shared, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities the NDSEG Fellowship will provide to advance my work and grow as a researcher committed to fostering collaboration, addressing meaningful societal challenges, and mentoring the next generation of composites researchers. I also value the platform this fellowship provides to highlight how woven composite materials can improve the performance, durability, and efficiency of the structures and technologies we rely on every day.

I would not have reached this point without the guidance of my mentors and peers at UW–Madison and Winona State University, as well as the colleagues and mentors who supported my development in the beginning of my engineering career. My friends and family have provided unwavering encouragement throughout my academic journey, and I am sincerely thankful for their support.”

Charles G. Salmon Associate Professor in Civil & Environmental and Mechanical Engineering Pavana Prabhakar advises Derbyshire. “As Lucas’s mentor, I am truly delighted and excited to celebrate his receipt of this prestigious fellowship for his doctoral research in composite materials. It has been a pleasure to watch his growth as a researcher, and this achievement is a wonderful reflection of his hard work, talent, and dedication. I have no doubt that, with this support, Lucas will continue to make important contributions to the field and help advance next-generation structural materials with real impact.”

Learn more about the NDSEG Fellowship Program.