Alisa N. Webb

Alisa Webb is a graduate student in aeronautics and astronautics whose research focuses on multifunctional nanocomposites for space environments. Safe human spaceflight requires materials that integrate multiple critical performance requirements—such as radiation shielding, electromagnetic interference shielding, thermal management, and reduced mass—into a single material platform. Her research spans the full lifecycle of advanced material development, from manufacturing and experimental characterization to large-scale adaptation, with a focus on polymer nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). She uses MATLAB to condense diverse material properties into coherent formats through visualization tools and custom analysis scripts, enabling systematic interpretation of complex characterization datasets. As a MathWorks Fellow, she will develop parametric models to predict neutron attenuation performance in BNNT-CNT nanocomposites by integrating boron isotope compositions, neutron energy dependence, and representative space radiation environments into the MATLAB workspace. Alisa’s research could enable safer human presence beyond Earth while advancing protective technologies with applications in healthcare and the nuclear industry.