ASCC welcomes undergraduate student researcher as full-time hire to support bio-based housing initiative
ORONO, Maine ? The Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) is pleased to announce the recent hire of Claire Liedtka as an engineer working with the Hub & Spoke Program, a partnership between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Maine. Liedtka recently graduated summa cum laude from the College of Engineering and from The Honors College; also with the highest honors.
Liedtka started working at the ASCC in February of 2021 as an undergraduate student researcher supporting the Hub and Spoke team. In addition to her own research, she also worked with David Erb and Dr. Susan MacKay to support a UMaine Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) capstone project where she helped guide capstone students through their work and gave them resources to yield useful and interesting research to support the work with ORNL.
“Claire earned her B.S. in Construction Engineering Technology at the University of Maine. Her Honors Thesis topic ‘Life Cycle Analysis and Implications of 3D Printed Bio-Based Homes, A Preliminary Study ’ was based on her work supporting the Hub and Spoke program,” said Dr. MacKay, Hub and Spoke program manager and Liedtka’s supervisor. “We are excited to have Claire continue her excellent work with us in her new staff role.”
Liedtka will continue her work supporting the Hub & Spoke program focusing on sustainable construction and life cycle analyses applied to 3D printing bio-based homes, as well as supporting the development of a cost model for additive manufacturing applied to building and construction. This work aligns with her goals to develop accessible green technology that can be integrated into the construction industry.
“By measuring the environmental and economic impacts associated with certain buildings or products that are produced, it can allow both companies and consumers to make informed decisions about the impact that they can personally make on the environment, and encourage an open-mindedness towards adopting new, greener building practices and materials,” said Liedtka. “This willingness to make an environmental shift in practice is something the construction industry is notoriously lacking, and doing work that is actively aiming to foster this mindset makes me proud.”
Liedtka presented her research at the 2022 American Society for Engineering Education Conference and Exhibition in Boston, Massachusetts.
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Liedtka came to UMaine in 2018 to study Construction Engineering Technology. In her free time, Liedtka enjoys keeping herself in touch with nature through beekeeping and bike riding. But at the end of a long day, you’ll most likely find her at home making jewelry, cooking new meals, or playing with her beloved cat, Jasper.
Contact: Taylor Ward, taylor.ward@maine.edu