Dr. Jena McCollum

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering
  Texas Tech University, 2015
• BS, Mechanical Engineering
  West Texas A&M University, 2012

• Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  University of Colorado Colorado Springs (2023-present)
• Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  University of Colorado Colorado Springs (2016-2023)
• NRC Postdoctoral Research Associate
  United States Air Force Academy (2016)
• Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant
  Texas Tech University (2013-2015)

Dr. McCollum is an Associate Professor and Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  She earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University in 2015, where she studied metal particle manipulation via surface chemistry or strain manipulation to alter burning behavior. In 2016, Dr. McCollum completed a National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship at the US Air Force Academy's Chemistry Research Center, studying polymer chemistry and processing before joining the faculty at UCCS in the fall of 2016. In 2023, she won an NSF Career Award for work in polymer composite electrolytes. Her research interests include studying particle/binder interface formation via rheology and spectroscopy, tying polymer molecular structure to viscoelastic response, and microstructural manipulation of particulate composites via variable processing routes. For more information, visit www.AMLResearch.com.