Professor Sneed extends her time as a Program Director at the NSF
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Professor Lesley Sneed has extended her time at the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a program director in the Division for Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation, within the Directorate for Engineering (ENG).
The ENG directorate invests in the creation of new engineering knowledge and cutting-edge technologies across disciplines while supporting hundreds of academic and research organizations throughout the U.S. and its territories.
In her role, Sneed supports multiple funding programs. She helps guide national priorities in engineering research and innovation, focusing on overseeing the merit review process and managing a strategic portfolio of research programs. She also collaborates across directorates and agencies to advance NSF’s mission.
“I joined NSF to serve the broader scientific community,” Sneed explained. “Program directors play a crucial role in shaping the direction of our nation’s scientific research and education. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of federal funding mechanisms, research priorities, and NSF’s inner workings. This position also expands my knowledge base in new areas, such as AI/machine learning and wildland fire science.”
The supportive and collegial environment at the NSF also provides Sneed with the opportunity to talk to principal investigators about their ideas and learn about other research areas. Ultimately, the position directly benefits UIC faculty members and students.
“I will return to UIC with new insights into NSF priorities and knowledge of federal funding mechanisms that will help foster innovation and mentorship of students and colleagues,” Sneed said.
While on detail at NSF, she will continue with her research in structural engineering, which focuses on the behavior of reinforced and prestressed concrete structural members and systems; structural models and experimental methods; innovative methods of repair and strengthening of structures subjected to seismic loading or other hazards; evaluation of existing structures; and design codes for structural concrete.
Sneed is a fellow of the American Concrete Institute and serves on several technical committees in her field, which include the ACI 318 Structural Concrete Building Code committee.