Pelagia Gouma has held several esteemed positions in academia and research, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the field of materials science and engineering. Since September 2017, she has served as the Edward Orton Jr. Chair in Ceramic Engineering and Professor with tenure in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, as well as the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Prior to this, from September 2016 to 2017, she was a Professor with tenure in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Texas-Arlington, TX, also serving as the Lead Scientist at UTARI- Institute for Predictive Performance Methodologies. From 2012 to 2016, Pelagia Gouma held the position of Professor with tenure in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the State University of New York-Stony Brook, NY, where she also served as the Director of the Center for Nanomaterials and Sensor Development. Prior to this, she served as an Associate Professor with tenure from 2005 to 2012, and as an Assistant Professor from 2000 to 2005, both in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the State University of New York-Stony Brook, NY, continuing her role as the Director of the Center for Nanomaterials and Sensor Development. Pelagia Gouma began her academic career as a Post-doctoral Researcher in the Department of Materials Science Engineering at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, from 1997 to 2000, following her research assistantship at the School of Applied Sciences, The University of Liverpool, UK, from 1992 to 1993. These experiences have shaped her into a seasoned academician and researcher, contributing significantly to the advancement of materials science and engineering.

Awards:

Pelagia-Irene (Perena) Gouma has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the field of ceramic engineering and materials science. In 2022, she was honored as a Keynote Speaker at the Main Forum of the Aristotle Medical Forum and was elected University Senator and Chair of IPPC. She also served on the Organizing Committee of the Big Ten Women’s Workshop in 2022, held in Chicago. In 2021, Pelagia-Irene received the Innovators Award from the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University. Her TEDx Talk titled “COVID-19: Test Results Within One Breath” in 2021 further highlighted her expertise and innovative thinking. She was also recognized as a President’s and Provost Leadership Institute (PPLI) Fellow for the 2019-2020 term. Pelagia-Irene was elected as a Fellow of The American Ceramic Society in 2019 and received the Mars G. Fontana Award for Outstanding Teaching at MSE in the same year. She was a Plenary Speaker at the 17th IMCS in Vienna, Austria, in 2018 and served as an Invited Panelist at the NSF Town Hall Session during the AVS meeting in Nashville, TN, in 2016.

Honors:

Pelagia-Irene (Perena) Gouma has been recognized for her groundbreaking work in ceramic engineering and materials science through various honors and invitations to speak at distinguished events. In 2022, she was invited to Dean Howard’s Enginuity Podcast, where she discussed “Breathing innovation into medical diagnostics.” In 2021, she was an Invited Speaker at the DTRA for “Breath-based Diagnostics: Looking Beyond the Horizon” and was featured on NSF.gov’s The Discovery Files for her 15-Second COVID Test. She was also mentioned in The New York Times and Wired Magazine for her innovative COVID breath test. Pelagia-Irene’s reputation as a thought leader is further evidenced by her keynote and plenary speaker engagements at prestigious conferences. In 2018, she was a Keynote Speaker at ESTS 18 in Melbourne, Australia, and a Plenary Speaker at the 17th IMCS in Vienna, Austria. She has been interviewed by various media outlets, including Digital Leben and Delo, and her work has been featured in NBC News.

Teaching:

Pelagia-Irene Gouma has a rich teaching history, spanning various courses in materials science and engineering. She has taught Thermodynamics of Materials at the undergraduate level in multiple semesters from 2001 to 2009, focusing on the fundamental principles governing material behavior. Additionally, she has instructed courses such as Transmission Electron Microscopy and Imperfections at the graduate level, providing students with advanced knowledge and practical skills in these specialized areas. One of her notable courses, Sensor Materials and Devices, has been offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, showcasing her expertise in sensor technologies. This course likely covers the design, fabrication, and application of sensors, reflecting her research interests and contributions to the field. Pelagia-Irene’s dedication to practical skills development is evident in her offering of courses like Practical Skills in SEM, providing students with hands-on experience in scanning electron microscopy. Her commitment to teaching excellence is further demonstrated by her consistent involvement in course instruction over the years, highlighting her passion for education and knowledge dissemination in the field of materials science and engineering.

Research:

Pelagia-Irene Gouma’s research contributions are marked by a series of granted patents, demonstrating her innovative work in the field. Among these patents is US Patent Number 11,467,459, issued on 10/10/22, showcasing her recent advancements. Another notable patent is Brazil 112012013191-5, issued on 10/29/2019, highlighting her international recognition. Her earlier patents include US Patent Number 8,980,640 and US Patent Number 8,955,367, both issued in 2015, indicating a sustained period of innovative research. Additionally, she holds patents such as US Patent Number 8,758,261, US Patent Number 8,485,983, US Patent Number 7,981,215, US Patent Number 7,017,389, US Patent Number 6,682,700, and US Patent Number 6,682,322, showcasing her diverse research interests and expertise. These patents cover a range of technologies, from selective nanoprobe development for olfactory medicine to sensors utilizing metal oxides for specific gases. Her work extends to free-standing fluid sensors, filters, and catalyst devices, reflecting a broad scope of research in materials science and engineering. Pelagia-Irene’s innovative research has not only contributed to advancements in sensor technologies but also holds potential for significant impacts in various fields.

Publications:

Ferroelectric WO3 Nanoparticles for Acetone Selective Detection

Authors: L Wang, A Teleki, SE Pratsinis, PI Gouma

Year: 2008

Anatase‐to‐rutile transformation in titania powders

Authors: PI Gouma, MJ Mills

Year: 2001

Stress corrosion cracking of sensitized AA5083 (Al-4.5 Mg-1.0 Mn)

Authors: JL Searles, PI Gouma, RG Buchheit

Year: 2001

Role of grain-boundary precipitates and solute-depleted zone on the intergranular corrosion of aluminum alloy 7150

Authors: T Ramgopal, PI Gouma, GS Frankel

Year: 2002

Comparison of sol–gel and ion beam deposited MoO3 thin film gas sensors for selective ammonia detection

Authors: AK Prasad, DJ Kubinski, PI Gouma

Year: 2003

Fabrication and characterization of polycrystalline WO3 nanofibers and their application for ammonia sensing

Authors: G Wang, Y Ji, X Huang, X Yang, PI Gouma, M Dudley

Year: 2006

Electrospun bioscaffolds that mimic the topology of extracellular matrix

Authors: D Han, PI Gouma

Year: 2006

Electrospun composite nanofibers for functional applications

Authors: KM Sawicka, P Gouma

Year: 2006

Sensing of organic vapors by flame-made TiO2 nanoparticles

Authors: A Teleki, SE Pratsinis, K Kalyanasundaram, PI Gouma

Year: 2006

Electrospun biocomposite nanofibers for urea biosensing

Authors: K Sawicka, P Gouma, S Simon

Year: 2005