Name: Andrew Lauer

Year/Major: 4^th year, Materials Science and Engineering 

Hometown: Highlands Ranch, CO

Lab: Autonomous Materials System Group 

Your research in 30 words or less: I study the self-healing effects of solvent filled microcapsules in carbon fiber reinforced, thermoplastic toughened epoxy composites.

(This research is sponsored by the AFOSR)

Favorite C-U restaurant: Black Dog

Andrew was recently awarded "image of distinction" in the Nikon Small World microscopy contest- a leading showcase for optical microscopy intended to highlighted beauty that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The image is a false coloration of ruptured microcapsules in the fracture plane of a two-phase self-healing polymer. Andrew is pictured above with the image on the monitor beside him. 

Read more about the Nikon Small World contest here.

See Andrew's specific image here.