Degree:

• May 2012 Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
• Jan. 2011 M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
• May 2007 B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
• May 2007 B.S., Physics, University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY

Lab/Center Affiliation:

• Mechanics and Tribology Laboratory

Research Interests:

• Tribology & Lubrication
• Mechanical Characterization of Materials
• Finite Element Analysis

Current Research:

Dr. Blum specializes in high performance materials development and characterization for tribological (friction and wear), structural, and biomedical applications. Her primary research interests are in the development of orthopedic biomaterials, and biomaterial characterization utilizing a combination of experimental techniques, nanoindentation, and computational modeling. Dr. Blum is also interested in characterizing the tribological performance of biological tissues using soft material contact mechanics and simulation. Understanding the structure-property relationships of biological tissues during contacting motion aids her lab in the development of synthetic biomimetic materials.

Teaching Interests:

• Finite element analysis
• Tribology & lubrication
• Solid mechanics

Select Publications:

Synthesis and Characterization of a Zwitterionic Hydrogel Blend with Low Coefficient of Friction Osaheni A.O., Finkelstein, E.B., Mather P.T., Blum M.M. (corresponding author), Acta Biomaterialia, December 2016.

A Mechanics of Materials Outreach Activity: Reconstructing the Human Body: Biomaterials and Biomimicry, Blum M.M. (corresponding author & presenter), Cadwell K., Hasenwinkel J., Paper and Presentation at 2015 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, June 2015.

Evaluation of mechanical and tribological properties in comparison with natural cartilage tissue, Blum M.M.(corresponding author) and Ovaert T.C, Materials Science and Engineering C, 2014.

Investigation of friction and surface degradation of innovative boundary lubricant functionalized hydrogel material for use as artificial articular cartilage, Blum M.M., Ovaert T.C., Wear, 2013.