Samira Akther Receives 2025 STLE Philadelphia Section Scholarship

Samira Akther, an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering and a member of the Temple Mechatronics Lab, has received a $750 scholarship from the Philadelphia Section of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). The competitive scholarship supports students with a strong interest in tribology, lubrication, and condition monitoring.

Samira recently began work on her research project, Listening to Failure: The Sound of a Failing Bearing, under the supervision of Dr. Osman Sayginer. The project investigates acoustic techniques for monitoring lubrication degradation in rolling element bearings, which are critical components in machinery across many industries. By comparing the performance of acoustic emission (AE) sensors and audible range microphones in a controlled experimental setup, the research aims to evaluate whether low cost audio tools can provide reliable information about lubrication health and support more accessible, scalable predictive maintenance strategies.

On September 27, William Tuszynski and Thomas O’Brien visited campus to present Samira with her scholarship check on behalf of the STLE Philadelphia Section. The scholarship will support the early stages of her undergraduate research in the Temple Mechatronics Lab.