Somnath Mandal, a graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was recently awarded a $10,000 scholarship from ASTM International.

Mandal was one of four students chosen from a pool of more than 30 applicants.

Mandal earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in ceramic engineering and has worked the past two years in the refractory ceramics industry. His previous research has focused on composition-processing-microstructure-property interrelationship in environment-friendly refractories used in the steel industry.

He is currently a Ph.D. student studying under UAB assistant professor Manoj Mahapatra.