Becca is currently developing different methods of glass additive manufacturing with the glass AM team at LLNL. 3D printing glass is of interest for many optics applications, such as mirrors for space exploration and custom lenses for advanced optical systems. By applying principles of dispersion science and fluid dynamics, she and the glass AM team are expanding the sizes, geometries, and compositional complexity of glass that can be fabricated via direct ink writing. By making these advances, they plan to provide new design flexibility to important optical systems. She is also interested in developing nascent methods of glass AM, such as volumetric additive manufacturing. Volumetric additive manufacturing, when combined with glass direct ink writing and compositional gradients, is being explored to create small-scale, smooth, layerless glass optics.

In addition to their materials science research, Becca is also passionate about social outreach and scientific education. She works with science education groups at the lab to assist with and organize events to teach the community about the field of additive manufacturing and promote the fact that anyone can be a scientist. Work with LLNL Pride is also important to Becca, to ensure everyone can be their authentic self at work. She aids in advocating for the LGBTQ+ community at LLNL and engaging with high school LGBTQ+ organizations to foster a sense of community between generations of LGBTQ+ folks and allies.

Ph.D. Materials Science, Penn State University, State College, PA

BS Materials Science, Penn State University, State College, PA

R. L. Walton, E. R. Kupp, G. L. Messing: Additive manufacturing of textured ceramics: A review. J. Mater. Res. 36, 3591 (2021).

R. L. Walton, M. J. Brova, B. H. Watson, E. R. Kupp, M. A. Fanton, R. J. Meyer, and G. L. Messing: Direct writing of textured ceramics using anisotropic nozzles. J. Eu. Ceram. Soc. 41 (3), 1945 (2021).

R. L. Walton, M. A. Fanton, R. J. Meyer, and G. L. Messing: Dispersion and rheology for direct writing lead-based piezoelectric ceramic pastes with anisotropic template particles. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 103 (11), 6157 (2020).

R. L. Walton, M. D. Vaudin, A. K. Hofer, E. R. Kupp, R. J. Meyer, and G. L. Messing: Tailoring particle alignment and grain orientation during tape casting and templated grain growth. J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 102 (5), 2405 (2019).

G. L. Messing, S. Poterala, Y. Chang, T. Frueh, E. R. Kupp, B. H. Watson, R. L. Walton, M. J. Brova, A. K. Hofer, R. Bermejo, and R. J. Meyer: Texture-engineered Ceramics - Property Enhancements Through Crystallographic Tailoring. J. Mater. Res. 32 (17), 3219 (2017).

• Engineering Division Cultural Impact Award, LLNL (Spring 2022)
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Research Slam, First place (Fall 2021)

• LLNL Pride – Outreach Lead (Spring 2021 – Present)
• Center for Engineered Materials and Manufacturing – Outreach Leader