Left to right: Valpo senior Windy Santa Cruz works with Valpo Alumnus Robert Bryant '85 at NASA's Langley Research Center

Valparaiso University senior chemistry major Windy Santa Cruz gained first-hand research experience this summer at NASA’s Langley Research Center, with Valpo alumnus Rob Bryant ’85, a materials engineer and leading researcher in the field of super plastics. Bryant led the NASA team that patented LaRC-SI, a new polymer with exceptional mechanical and processing properties that was selected as a 1995 R&D Magazine 100 award winner as one of the 100 most important patents in the world for the year. 

“My research included the synthesis and characterization of high performance, highly versatile polyimide films,” Santa Cruz said.  “The polyimides have excellent structural properties which allow for their use in mechanical, electrical and chemical applications.”

“These new polyimides should outperform other commercial products and can be used as composites, bagging materials, adhesives, wear-resistant parts and wire insulation,” she said.

Santa Cruz’s time at Langley ended Aug. 7, but she will continue working on a report about her summer research findings throughout the fall semester. 

“My plan is to go to graduate school and get a Ph.D. in chemistry,” she said.  “This summer has been invaluable in getting very helpful advice from Dr. Bryant and other NASA personnel about schools and success in general.”