Ph.D. Candidate
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Scott Bender is a Ph.D. candidate in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Structural Engineering Graduate Pathways Co-Op at NASA. His graduate work has spanned experimental testing, sensing technology, and the development of space structures. As a graduate student, he completed a master’s thesis on a full-scale bending test of an experimental aircraft wing and developed sensing systems for detecting impact damage on flexible space structures. His current Ph.D. research is primarily focused on the use of additive manufacturing for developing space hardware with embedded sensing systems. More specifically, embedding sensors into complex geometry in order to capture structural and thermal behavior that can support future digital twin models and life cycle prediction.
At NASA, Scott contributes to the structural development and certification of next generation space habitats, including inflatable and expandable modules. His combined academic and NASA experience reflects an ongoing commitment to advancing structural sensing, qualification methods, and the use of additive manufacturing in future human spaceflight systems.
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Embedded Fiber Optic Sensing in Additively Manufactured Structures
Monday, April 13, 2026
2:35 PM - 3:05 PM East Coast USA Time