R. De Vita is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at Virginia Tech. She is affiliate faculty in the Mechanical Engineering Department and core faculty in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences at Virginia Tech and Wake Forest University. She is also a member of the Interdisciplinary Center of Applied Mathematics.
“Instrumental or mechanical science is the noblest and above all others the most useful, seeing that by means of it all animated bodies which have movement perform all their actions.” (Leonardo da Vinci)
Continuum mechanics with emphasis on solid mechanics, constitutive modeling for nonlinear elastic, viscoelastic, and liquid crystal biological systems, mechanics of ligaments, tendons, cells, lipid bilayers, and insect tracheal tubes.
Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh,
2005
M.S in Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2003
Laurea
in Mathematics, University of Naples II, 2000
Excellence in Access and Inclusion Award, Virginia Tech, April 23, 2013
Scholar of the Week, Virginia Tech, August 27, 2012
NSF CAREER Award, 2012
NSF CBET Award Achievement, 2012
Paper in Highlights of Smart Materials and Structures, 2011
American Society of Biomechanics President's Award, 2006
Laurea cum Laude, 2000
Engineering Science and Mechanics Department
Virginia Tech
230 Norris Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: (540) 231-5905
E-mail: devita@vt.edu
