Emily Anne Vargas
PhD in Materials Science
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My mom always used to say to me “No olvides tus raíces aunque estés en la cima.” Which means to never forget your roots, even when you are at the top. To never forget why you started, how you started, and to give back to the communities that made you who you are today. My second favorite quote is “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Ask questions. Find a mentor that can help answer the questions you didn’t know how to ask or knew to ask.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
Being a first-generation college graduate, the first engineer in my family, and the first person to go to graduate school. I couldn’t have done it without my family’s support and unconditional love. They immigrated from Cuba with nothing but the clothes on their backs and, in turn, provided the opportunity for me and my sister to live out the American Dream.
What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?
My K2 Inline Skates! My friend, Jose, has been teaching me how to rollerblade on campus (I haven’t fallen…yet).
Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.
I’m currently working on how the manufacturing process affects the microstructure of oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and how the microstructure affects the overall mechanical behavior! I like to think about my research like the show “How It’s Made”. You don’t quite realize how the smallest of changes in a manufacturing process can truly impact the outcome of whatever material or product you’re making. I also like how I can see the real-world applications of my research. CMCs are used in high temperature applications ranging from car brakes to heat shields for rockets!
If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?
I would be a visual artist! In my spare time, I love to draw and paint and almost went to an art magnet school for high school.
What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?
I made a list of non-negotiables when choosing PhD programs and ultimately, they all were components that led to my happiness. Location, being near an international airport so I could visit my family, Vitamin D (sunshine makes all the difference!), my faculty advisor and the research topic, how much effort the university puts in DE&I initiatives, and the people/culture. Many people don’t realize the culture from undergrad to grad is vastly different, so surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is super important to maintaining your health and well-being physically, mentally, and emotionally. Shout out to Andy Chen and Kevin Henry for showing me how much USC cares about their students and treats them like family!
If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?
Joshua Tree National Park (and any other National Parks in the neighboring area) for stargazing, Smorgasburg if you’re a foodie, and the Huntington Library.
What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?
Meeting my best friends, Jose, Joel, and Sophia, and forming a WhatsApp group called “The Pupusa Squad” one day after we had gotten lunch together at a pupuseria. Together, we played hooky one time at a conference held at UC San Diego and explored La Jolla and the beaches.
What's one thing about you that might surprise me?
I currently serve as the Vice-Chair on the National Board of Directors for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. I’m the youngest Vice-Chair the organization has ever had.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’d like to work in either the aerospace, automotive, or energy/power industry as a chief composites engineer within R&D.
Hometown (city, country):
Miami, FL, USA.
Personal Website (if any):
https://composites.usc.edu/emily-vargas/
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Steve Nutt from the USC M.C. Gill Composites Center.
