Sophia Santillan

Research Themes

Computation & Artificial Intelligence

Research Interests

Engineering education, nonlinear systems, structural mechanics and numerical methods.

Bio

I'm an Associate Professor of the Practice, teaching some required courses for the MEMS major. My research areas are: structural mechanics, nonlinear dynamics, and engineering/STEM education.

Education

• Ph.D. Duke University, 2007

Positions

• Associate Professor of the Practice in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
• Associate Professor of the Practice of Mathematics

Courses Taught

• SOCIOL 390S: Seminar in Special Topics
• ME 555: Advanced Topics in Mechanical Engineering
• ME 424L: Mechanical Systems Design
• ME 421L: Mechanical Design
• ME 391: Undergraduate Projects in Mechanical Engineering
• MATH 753: Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
• MATH 353: Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
• MATH 219: Multivariable Calculus
• HOUSECS 59: House Course
• EHD 796T: Bass Connections Education & Human Development Research Team
• EHD 795T: Bass Connections Education & Human Development Research Team
• EHD 396T: Bass Connections Education & Human Development Research Team
• EHD 395T: Bass Connections Education & Human Development Research Team
• EHD 390S: Special Topics in Education and Human Development
• EGR 244L: Dynamics

Publications

• Santillan ST, Franzoni LP, Tantum SL. Work in Progress: Evaluation of 360 Coaching to Support Whole-Student Advising in the First-Year. In: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings. 2023.
• Cervi C, Santillan ST, Virgin LN. Interrogating the Configuration Space of Postbuckled Beams. Journal of Engineering Mechanics. 2023 Mar 1;149(3).
• Stach E, Lipp G, McGuire P, Santillan S. IT'S CURLING NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS!. In: ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings (IMECE). 2023.
• Tantum S, Santillan ST, Temiquel-McMillian L, Ganley J. WIP - 360 Coaching to Support Whole-Student Advising in the First-Year. In: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings. 2022.
• Tannebaum A, Santillan ST, Simmons R. Women in Engineering: 3D Printing Interests, Habits, and Persistence. In: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings. 2021.
• Cunningham P, Matusovich HM, Carrico C, Ellestad RMC, Tantum S, Santillan ST, et al. Supporting Students' Skillful Learning: Lessons Learned from a Faculty Development Workshop. In: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings. 2021.
• Gray M, Saterbak A, Santillan ST, Rizk M, Sperling J. Work-In-Progress: Engineering self-efficacy in first-year design. In: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings. 2020.
• Santillan ST, Virgin LN. Numerical and experimental analysis of the static behavior of highly deformed risers. Ocean Engineering. 2011 Sep 1;38(13):1397–402.
• Santillan ST. Correlation between homework solution website use and course performance. In: ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings. 2011.
• Watkins RJ, Santillan S, Radice J, Barton O. Vibration response of an elastically point-supported plate with attached masses. Thin-Walled Structures. 2010 Jul 1;48(7):519–27.
• Santillan ST, Virgin LN, Plaut RH. Static and dynamic behavior of highly deformed risers and pipelines. Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering. 2010 May 1;132(2):1–6.
• Santillan ST, Plaut RH, Witelski TP, Virgin LN. Large oscillations of beams and columns including self-weight. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics. 2008 Oct 1;43(8):761–71.
• Virgin LN, Santillan ST, Plaut RH. Vibration isolation using extreme geometric nonlinearity. Journal of Sound and Vibration. 2008 Aug 19;315(3):721–31.
• Santillan ST, Virgin LN, Plaut RH. Nonlinear two-dimensional elastica analysis of subsea risers. In: 7th European Conference on Structural Dynamics, EURODYN 2008. 2008.
• Santillan ST, Virgin LN, Plaut RH. Static and dynamic behavior of highly-deformed risers and pipelines. Proceedings of the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering - OMAE. 2007 Dec 21;3:143–9.
• Virgin LN, Santillan ST, Holland DB. Effect of gravity on the vibration of vertical cantilevers. Mechanics Research Communications. 2007 Apr 1;34(3):312–7.
• Santillan ST, Virgin LN, Plaut RH. Post-buckling and vibration of heavy beam on horizontal or inclined rigid foundation. Journal of Applied Mechanics, Transactions ASME. 2006 Jul 1;73(4):664–71.
• Santillan S, Virgin LN, Plaut RH. Equilibria and vibration of a heavy pinched loop. Journal of Sound and Vibration. 2005 Nov 22;288(1–2):81–90.
• Akin V, Santillan S, Valentino L. Strengthening the STEM Pipeline for Women: An Interdisciplinary Model for Improving Math Identity (Accepted). PRIMUS. (Special Issue Promoting Women in Mathematics).

In The News

• “Engineering While Black” creates a series of important conversations (Apr 1, 2021 | DukEngineer Magazine)
• To Shrink the Gender Gap in STEM, Start with Girls’ Math Identity (May 19, 2020 | Duke Engineering News)
• Wary of the wire cutter? Clueless about the drill press? These Duke Engineering First-Year Design students have you covered (Apr 3, 2019 | Duke Engineering News)
• A new first-year student experience is catching positive reviews (May 29, 2018 | DukEngineer Magazine)
• New First-Year Design Course, Space Debut (Aug 24, 2017 | Duke Engineering News)