While doing her senior project, Samantha Lederman extensively used FEA software for the first time and learned that acoustic quality control “was a thing.”

For her project, “Impact of Low-Temperature Carburization on the Frequency Response of Austenitic Stainless Steel Components,” Lederman did harmonic analysis on simplified 3D models to obtain frequency response data, such as displacement vs. frequency graphs and resonance frequencies.  Working with Professor Frank Ernst, she used Ansys Mechanical ADPL software and simulated AISI 316 in her models.  

After she graduates in January, Lederman will head to Milwaukee, Wisc., where she will spend the next 20 months rotating through four different engineering roles at Rexnord's Technical Excellence Program.  “I wanted to do a rotational program so I could explore different kinds of engineering roles and see where I fit best,” she said.

When Lederman started at CWRU in Fall 2016, she planned to be a biomedical engineering major, but enjoyed ENGR 145 so much that she decided to become a Materials Science & Engineering major with a biomaterials concentration.  “I love combining engineering with physiology,” she said.  “Engineering materials and devices that can have a direct impact on someone's quality of life is very special.”

Looking back on her time at CWRU, Lederman is proud of her grades, but also appreciative of the experiences she’s had and the friends she’s made.  She credits Ernst and Associate Professor Jennifer Carter for giving her “great career and academic advice.”  Lederman, who recently got engaged, worked as a Resident Assistant and was a member of the Phi Sigma Rho sorority.  She particularly admired two sorority sisters who were also Materials majors, Beth Hodges and Natalie Steinway, who “gave me career and life advice” and “helped me with classes.”