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ASTM International Announces 2011 Graduate Scholarship WinnersDoctoral Students from the University of Arkansas and the University of Southern California Receive Awards

ASTM International has announced that University of Arkansas student Santosh Narasimhachary and University of Southern California student Mark Blanchette are the recipients of the 2011 ASTM International Graduate Scholarship.

The ASTM Graduate Scholarship rewards graduate students (master's or doctoral) who have demonstrated high levels of interest in or involvement with ASTM International standards.

A Ph.D. candidate in the department of mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., Narasimhachary is conducting research on displacement controlled creep-fatigue crack growth test development using DEN specimens under the advisement of ASTM member Ashok Saxena, Ph.D., distinguished professor and dean of engineering at the university. Narasimhachary has been a research assistant in the university mechanical properties research laboratory since 2009. Before that he was an R&D engineer at Wellman Products Group, a division of Hawk Corp.

Narasimhachary, who earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., in 2007, and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Anna University in Chennai, India, in 2005, is a student member of ASTM International and has made significant contributions to ASTM Committee E08 on Fatigue and Fracture. He is also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Blanchette is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of biokinesiology and physical therapy at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif. His research focuses on biokinesiology and biomechanics, specifically the relation between footwear tread design and slip resistance, slip testing, tribometer validation and high-heeled gait. He currently works as a forensics assistant at Semper Scientific Inc. in Mission Viejo, Calif., and as an independent contractor conducting biomechanical and materials testing at J2 Engineering in Fresno, Calif.

Blanchette earned a master's degree in biokinesiology from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif., in 2007 and a bachelor's degree in exercise science from the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I., in 2004. A student member of ASTM International and Committee F13 on Pedestrian/Walkway Safety and Footwear, Blanchette is also a member of the American Society of Biomechanics and the Footwear Biomechanics Group of the International Society of Biomechanics.

For more information about ASTM International's student membership, scholarships and other academic activities, visit the Students and Professors section of the ASTM website (www.astm.org/studentmember).