Researcher Began AFRL Career Path as a Young Scientist Published March 11, 2014 By Laura Dempsey, AFRL/CCX AFRL Headquarters WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Shanee Pacley's childhood dream of becoming a chemical engineer was diverted in high school, when her participation in Wright State University's Science, Technology and Engineering Preparatory Program (Wright STEPP) introduced her to the world of materials science. Today, Pacley is well into her second decade as a materials scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Pacley started work at AFRL in 2001 as an undergraduate co-op student, and credits the co-op program with cementing her career choice. "It was great," she said, "because it gave me a lot of hands-on experience in the lab. It was awesome having that day-to-day interaction with other scientists and engineers in the field." Pacley earned a bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering at Dayton, Ohio's Wright State University in 2003, moving across town to the University of Dayton for her master's degree in materials engineering, which she received in 2006. At that time, she became a full-time Air Force employee, later returning to the University of Dayton for her PhD, which she completed in 2012. Pacley's doctoral research was in carbon nanopearls, and she's featured in a video on the National Defense Education Program's LabTV (ndep.us/LabTV). In the video, she explains how nanopearls are made up of tiny flakes of heptagonal, pentagonal and hexagonal carbon rings that link together like a pearl necklace. Scientists and engineers are exploring many potential uses for nanopearls, including making better flat-panel television screens. Today, Pacley's specialty is the study of carbon nanomaterials and two-dimensional materials. Looking ahead, Pacley plans to give back by helping new students in Wright STEPP and, perhaps, working as an adjunct professor, teaching materials science to future researchers. "I always want to grow," she said. "Even though I've finished my PhD, I always want to continue learning."