Advanced structured materials are among the fastest-growing material classes, offering properties that conventional engineering materials cannot achieve. By combining different materials or modifying the structure of traditional materials, these advanced materials can surpass the performance of single-material systems and can be tailored to meet the specific demands of their intended applications. This talk will present several recent projects focused on the fabrication and application of advanced structured materials for anti-slip and biomedical uses: 1. Textured-Surface Composites: This research explores how additive manufacturing can be leveraged to introduce controlled damage in oriented fibre composites, enabling the creation of heterogeneous, textured surfaces that enhance slip resistance in winter footwear. 2. Additively Manufactured Metamaterials: This research focuses on metamaterials based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) and explores the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) to fabricate these structures for orthopedic implant applications. Additionally, our team investigates modifications to commercially available 3D printers to enable the production of composites with controlled conductive fibre alignment for use as biosensors. Looking ahead, future work will focus on the application of advanced manufacturing techniques to design and develop next-generation materials for a wide range of industries, from healthcare to high-performance applications. Please RSVP here if you are planning to attend https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJ62puuB3CWTiOv_Zdev0mnHNbb5_3LUXUl-vg6almyQhRhA/viewform

Shaghayegh (Shay) Bagheri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at George Mason University and an Affiliate Scientist at the KITE Research Institute. Prior to this, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Engineering Health Team at KITE and then became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering at Ontario Tech University (Oshawa, Canada). 

Her research focuses on advanced manufacturing technologies for multifunctional materials, with the primary goal of leveraging her expertise in biomechanics, materials science, and advanced manufacturing to develop innovative solutions for the healthcare sector, particularly in rehabilitation, injury prevention, and treatment. Bagheri has received multiple honours and awards, including the George Mason University Best Mentor Award in both 2024 and 2025, as well as recognition from the National Science Foundation, the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

She currently serves as a guest editor for the Journal of Biomechanics (Special Issue on “Advances in Sport Injuries”) and has previously guest-edited Bone and Tissue Regeneration Insights.