Francesco Danzi, PhD

Welcome! Thanks for visiting my page.

My name is Francesco Danzi, I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Merced.

My research interest lies at the intersection between mechanics and nonlinear dynamics. Broadly, I am interested in the understanding and the consequent exploitation of the interplay between topology and dynamics of a system. My current focus is on modal energy exchanges.

I earned my Ph. D. in Aerospace Engineering from Turin Polytechnic. working in the Prof. Romeo Research Group. My dissertation concerned the dynamic tailoring of beam-like structures and was supervised by Prof. Giacomo Frulla and Prof. Enrico Cestino from Turin Polytechnic and by Prof. James M. Gibert from Purdue University. After earning my Ph. D. I joined the Advanced Dynamics And MechanicS (ADAMS) Lab, at Purdue University

Spotlight

I am actively recruiting two graduate students. If you are interested, please send me an email at: fdanzi@ucmerced.edu

Jan 2023

I started in my new position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Merced,

Mar. 2022

Recipient of the Postdoctoral Travel Grant issued by Purdue University.

Mar. 2022

Reviewer and judge for the Best Student Paper Competition at the SPIE Smart Structure and Nondestructive Evaluation Conference.

Sept. 2021

Reviewer for the Best Student Paper Competition at the ASME Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems (SMASIS) Conference.

Apr. 2021

I served as a reviewer and judge for the Best Student Paper Competition at the 2021 SPIE Smart Structure and Nondestructive Evaluation Conference.

Mar. 2021

I joined the Editorial Board of Computational Methods In Structural Engineering as a Review Editor.

Sept. 2020

I was elected member of the Aerospace Branch of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME).

Teaching, Mentoring & Outreach

Besides research, I am an instructor and a mentor. I strive to help others to succeed. Among others, I am currently a mentor of an undergraduate student enrolled in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). I also engage in outreach activities and I served as the instructor for a course aimed to provide state-of-the-art equipment for research and training to women and students from vulnerable populations in the Querétaro area (Mexico).

Whether being in the class, lab, or research group, I am committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment. I advocate the importance of feeling welcomed and understood to prosper and grow personally, professionally and, as a citizen of the world.

Lastly, I am a first-generation college graduate and I would love to help first-generation college students to thrive on their academic journey!

A portrait of two students of mine busy with the final touches to their prototype wing at the Boeing Wind Tunnel facility at Purdue University. (Apr. 2021)

Me presenting our research at the IUPUI Girls STEM Institute, Indianapolis. (Jun. 2019).