Opportunity: Characterization of Corrosion Mechanisms Through Advanced Surface Analysis and Data Analytics

Material degradation driven by environmental corrosion presents a persistent operational and lifecycle challenge for critical structural systems and equipment. This research project focuses on elucidating early-stage corrosion mechanisms, evaluating protective surface treatments, and quantifying degradation kinetics across varied substrates under varied exposure conditions.
The participant will conduct both laboratory-based characterization and computational data comparison. Hands-on responsibilities include preparing coupons, executing exposure testing, and conducting electrochemical evaluations such as potentiodynamic polarization. To assess localized structural and chemical changes, the participant will utilize surface analysis techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and 3D optical surface profilometry. Concurrently, the participant will report findings through datasets to forecast trends.