Nha Uyen Huynh, Ph.D. Staff Research Scientist

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Research Interest

Dr. Nha Uyen Huynh’s research focuses on the development and implementation of terahertz (THz) spectroscopy and imaging for in situ characterization of polymer mechanics. Her work advances THz-based technologies and nondestructive evaluation to elucidate the evolution of polymer microstructure, viscoelasticity, and damage mechanisms under mechanical loading while enabling investigation of the process-structure-property interrelationship spanning quasi-static to ultrahigh strain rate regime. Dr. Huynh seeks to advance state-of-the-art experimental mechanics to address the gap in knowledge in the behavior and performance of dynamically loaded polymers.

Education

  • PhD., Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University & UC, San Diego, June 2022.
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, May 2018.
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, UC, Davis, June 2012.

Experience

  • Senior Member of Technical Staff – Nondestructive Evaluation Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories. March 2025 – March 2026
  • Postdoctoral Appointee – Structural Mechanics Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories. September 2022 – March 2025
  • Doctoral Research Assistant – Experimental Mechanics Laboratory, San Diego State University. August 2018 – August 2022

Publications

  • George Youssef, Nha Uyen Huynh, and Somer Nacy. ” Optical and Geometrical Properties from Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy Data.” Materials (2024), 17(23), 5854 .
  • Brad H. Jones, Francesca M. D’de Baca, Erin J. Nissen, Angela Y. Ku, Jessica K. Kopatz, Nha Uyen Huynh, and Samuel C. Leguizamon. “Static and Dynamic Thermomechanical Properties of Phase-Separated Epoxy Networks with Tuned Microstructures.” ACS Applied Polymer Materials (2024).
  • Newacheck, Scott, Nha Uyen Huynh, and George Youssef. “Mechano-electro-magneto-optical properties of giant PCBM crystals.” Materials Research Innovations (2024): 1-7.
  • Scott Newacheck, Nha Uyen Huynh, and George Youssef. “Tunable and switchable magnetoresistance of P3HT:PCBM organic framework.” Materials Letters 363 (2024): 136258.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh, Amritesh Kumar, Maryam Ghorbani, and George Youssef. “Terahertz characterization of combined pressure-shear shock loaded aromatic polyurea.” Polymer Testing 129 (2023): 108279.
  • Anil Singh, Vincent Ngo, Nha Uyen Huynh, Behrad Koohbor, and George Youssef. “Structural Performance of Additively Manufactured Composite Lattice Structures: Strain Rate, Cell Geometry, and Weight Ratio Effects.” Advanced Engineering Materials (2023).
  • Nha Uyen Huynh, and George Youssef. “In-operando spectroscopic interrogation of macromolecular conformational changes in polyurea elastomers under high strain rate loading.” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 175 (2023): 105297.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh, Behrad Koohbor, and George Youssef. “Light‐Matter Interactions Revealing Load‐Induced Phase Mobility in Elastomers.” Macromolecular Rapid Communications 44, no. 7 (2023): 2200725.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh, Behrad Koohbor, and George Youssef. “Localized creep analysis of polyurea elastomer from full-field measurements.” Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials 27, no. 3 (2023): 727-741.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. “Ex-situ Spectroscopic Characterization of Residual Effects of Thermomechanical Loading on Polyurea.” Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology (2021): 1-27.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh, Carlos Gamez, and George Youssef. “Spectro‐microscopic Characterization of Elastomers Subjected to Laser‐induced Shock Waves.” Macromolecular Materials and Engineering: 2100506.
  • Scott Newacheck, Nha Uyen Huynh, and George Youssef. “Colossal crystals in P3HT:PCBM blends for enhanced organic magnetism.” Crystal Growth & Design, (2021), 21, 9, 5300–5305.
  • Carlos Gamez, Nha Uyen Huynh, and George Youssef. “In-silico experimentations of multimode shock response of polyurea.” International Journal of Mechanical Sciences 2021, 204, 106542.
  • Ryan Stampfli, Nha Uyen Huynh, George Youssef “Long-term Converse Magnetoelectric Response of Actuated 1-3 Multiferroic Composite Structures.” Magnetochemistry, Multiferroic Materials 2021, 7, 55.
  • George Youssef, Scott Newacheck, Nha Uyen Huynh,and Carlos Gamez. “Multiscale characterization of E-Glass/Epoxy composite exposed to extreme environmental conditions.” Journal of Composites Science, Special Issue: Characterization and Modelling of Composites, Volume II 2021, 5, 80.
  • Aryan Blourchian, Atif Mohammed Shaik, Nha Uyen Huynh, and George Youssef. “Segmental Evolution of Ultraviolet Weathered Polyurea.” Journal of Polymer Research 2021, 28, 117.
  • George Youssef, Somer Nacy, and Nha Uyen Huynh. “Mechanics of Microspheres Reinforced Hollow Microcells.” Journal of Applied Mechanics 2021, 28, 117.
  • Dillan Stengel, J. Bennett Addison, David Onofrei, Nha Uyen Huynh, George Youssef, and Gregory P. Holland. “Hydration-induced β-sheet Crosslinking of a-helical-rich Spider Prey-wrapping Silk.” Advanced Functional Materials 2021, 31, 13.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. “Physical Evidence of Stress-induced Conformational Changes in Polymers” Experimental Mechanics.” Experimental Mechanics 2020, 3, p. 1-13.
  • Sophia Do, Nha Uyen Huynh, Nathan Reed, Atif Mohammed Shaik, Somer Nacy, and George Youssef. “Partially-Perforated Self-Reinforced Polyurea Foams.” Applied Sciences, Advances in Foamed Polymers Special Issue 2020, 10, 5869.
  • George Youssef, Jordan Smilo, Aryan Blourchian, Nha Uyen Huynh, and Arbi V. Karapetian. “Multifunctional Fused Deposition Modeled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene-based Structures with Embedded Conductive Channels.” Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology 2021, 143:011001.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh, Jordan Smilo, Aryan Blourchian, Arbi V. Karapetian, and George Youssef. “Property-Map of Epoxy-Treated and As-Printed Polymeric Additively Manufactured Materials.” International Journal of Mechanical Sciences 2020, 181, 105767.
  • Youssef, G., Nathan Reed, Nha Uyen Huynh, Brooke Rosenow, and Kristoffer Manlulu “Experimentally-validated Predictions of Impact Response of Polyurea Foams using Viscoelasticity based on Bulk Properties.” Mechanics of Materials 2020, 148, 103432.
  • Nathan Reed, Nha Uyen Huynh, Brooke Rosenow, Kristoffer Manlulu, and George Youssef. “Synthesis and Characterization of Elastomeric Polyurea Foam.” Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2019, 137, 48839.
  • Shaik, Atif Mohammed, Nha Uyen Huynh, and George Youssef. “Micromechanical Behavior of Ultraviolet-Exposed Polyurea.” Mechanics of Materials (2019): 103244.
  • Nha Uyen Huynh, Sam Kassegne, George Youssef. “Comparative study of tuning of microfabrication parameters for improving electrochemical performance of platinum and glassy carbon microelectrodes in neural prosthetics.” Journal of Microsystem Technologies 2020, 46, 775-785.
  • Hirabayashi, M., Nha Uyen Huynh, S. Witsell, A. Perez, L. Sandoval, N. Yamada, and S. Kassegne. “In-Vitro Real-Time Coupled Electrophysiological and Electrochemical Signals Detection with Glassy Carbon Microelectrodes.” J. Electrochemical Society 2017, 164, no. 5: B3113-B3121.

Conference Presentations

  • “Damage Accumulation of Thermomechanical-loaded Flexible Foam.” Nha Uyen Huynh, Matthew Swanson, Craig Hamel, Kevin Long, and Sharlotte Kramer. 2025 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “Density-dependent Damage Evolution and Healing of Flexible Foam.” Nha Uyen Huynh, Andrew Miller, Craig Hamel, Kevin Long, and Sharlotte Kramer. 2024 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “Failure of an AM Al-Si10-Mg Tensile Specimen in a Heterogeneous Stress-state.” Thomas Ivanoff, Nha Uyen Huynh, Colin Loeffler, Sharlotte Kramer, and Paul Specht. 2024 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “Advanced Techniques to Enable the Automation of Digital Image Correlation and Analysis in Mechanical Testing.” Nathan Heckman, Brian Fuchs, Nha Uyen Huynh, Mark Foster, Daniel Do, Michael Miller, Ernest Miramontes-Carrera, Amanda Jones, Thomas Ivanoff, Chris Laursen, Sharlotte Kramer. 2024 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “Leveraging 3D Characterization for Mechanical Modeling of Failure in AM Metals.” Andrew Polonsky, Kyle Johnson, Caroline Massey, Nha Uyen Huynh, James Griego, Philip Noell, Nathan Heckman, Thomas Ivanoff. 2024 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “In-situ Microstructural Analysis of Additively Manufactured Al-Si10-Mg During Deformation.” Nha Uyen Huynh, Caroline Massey, Thomas Ivanoff, and Sharlotte Kramer. 2023 International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing.
  • “Towards Adoption of Additively Manufactured Metals for Demanding Structural Applications.” Sharlotte Kramer, Paul Specht, Colin Loeffler, Nathan Heckman, Thomas Ivanoff, Brian Fuchs, Nha Uyen Huynh, John Varga, and Nathan Brown. 2023 International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing.
  • “Computational Modeling for Identifying Voids in Additively Manufactured Al-Si10-Mg.” Nha Uyen Huynh, Caroline Massey, Nathan Heckman, Thomas Ivanoff, and Sharlotte Kramer. 2023 15th International Conference on Fracture.
  • “Mechanical Behavior of Shock Loaded Elastomeric Polymers.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. 2023 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “Leveraging Creep Deformation for Revealing Molecular-scale Processes.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. 2023 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “Elucidation of the Creep Response of Polymers using Light-matter Interactions.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. 2022 SEM Annual Conference.
  • “Spectroscopic Characterizations of Polymers Under Ultrahigh Strain Rate Loading.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. 2022 MRS Spring Meeting.
  • “Spectro-mechanical Characterization of Shock-loaded Polyurea.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. ACS Spring 2022 Meeting & Exposition.
  • “Computational Modeling of Hydrogen Bonding in Polyurea.” Sasha Gardner, Nha Uyen Huynh, George Youssef, and Andrew Cooksy. ACS Spring 2022 Meeting & Exposition.
  • “Molecular Interrogation of Polymers using Terahertz Spectroscopy.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. SEM 2021 Virtual Annual Conference.
  • “Spectroscopic Explorations of Thermal Transitions of Polyurea.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. MRS 2021 Virtual Spring Meeting & Exhibit.
  • “In Situ Characterization of Active Polymers Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy.” Nha Uyen Huynh and George Youssef. MRS 2019 Fall Meeting and Exhibit (Poster).
  • “Spectroscopic-Mechanical Behavior of Polymers” Nha Uyen Huynh and G. Youssef. ASME 2019 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition.
  • “Multifunctional Additively Manufactured Structures” Nha Uyen Huynh, J. Smilo, A. Blourchian, and G. Youssef. ASME 2019 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition.

Awards

  • 2022 Outstanding Engineering Project, San Diego County Engineering Council, Nha Uyen Huynh. “New Frontiers in Material Characterizations.”
  • Fellow of the University Graduate Fellowship Award, 2021/22
  • Nominee Best Poster Award at Material Research Society 2019 Fall Meeting and Exhibit.
  • Finalist for annual student paper competition at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), hosted by the Experimental Mechanics technical committee (2019).