AIAA honors NCAME director for his leadership, research into metal additive manufacturing
Published: Oct 7, 2026 9:00 AM
By Phillip Tutor
Auburn Engineering's Nima Shamsaei, right, gives a tour of one of the college's research centers.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the world’s most prestigious aerospace professional society, has recognized Auburn Engineering’s Nima Shamsaei for significant contributions to his field of study.
Shamsaei, the Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Distinguished Professor and director of the National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME), has been named to the society’s 2027 class of associate fellows. Shamsaei will be honored at the AIAA Associate Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner on Jan. 13, 2027, during the AIAA SciTech Forum 2027 in Orlando, Florida.
According to the AIAA, the associate fellow designation is awarded to scientists “who have accomplished or been in charge of important engineering or scientific work, or who have done original work of outstanding merit, or who have otherwise made outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences or technology of aeronautics or astronautics.”
Next year’s class includes members from 42 states and seven countries. Only 17% of AIAA members receive this designation.
“I am humbled and honored to be selected as an AIAA associate fellow,” Shamsaei said. “I am especially grateful to my nominators for their confidence and support, as well as to the mentors, colleagues, students and collaborators who have inspired and supported me throughout my career. I look forward to continuing to serve the aerospace community, advance our field and inspire the next generation of aerospace professionals.”
Shamsaei, who joined Auburn Engineering in 2016, is renowned for his research and leadership into additive manufacturing (AM) at NCAME, which he founded. Through its collaboration with NASA and the scientific expertise of Auburn Engineering researchers, NCAME has become the epicenter of AM technology and its adoption across a variety of workplace sectors that includes industry, government, academia and non-profit organizations.
In announcing its 2027 class, the AIAA praised Shamsaei’s “most notable contribution to the aeronautics and astronautics fields” for creating scientific guidelines for safely using additive manufacturing in vital aerospace components.
His research, according to the AIAA, “bridges the gap between the microscopic uncertainties inherent in AM processes and the macroscopic performance and regulatory requirements of the aerospace industry. His technical leadership is defined by his research into qualification and certification of AM parts, which is the major bottleneck preventing widespread adoption of AM in the aerospace sector.”
The society also highlighted Shamsaei’s work on large-scale AM projects that are helping NASA build flight-ready, complex components necessary for deep-space exploration missions.
Additionally, the AIAA noted that Shamsaei’s scientific publications have been cited more than 20,000 times, “fundamentally influencing” research into metal additive manufacturing.
“Congratulations to each member of the Class of 2027 Associate Fellows,” AIAA President Keoki Jackson said. “This distinguished group has advanced the state of science and technology in aeronautics and astronautics, breaking some of our industry’s most challenging barriers along the way. Their sustained excellence and technical leadership reflect the caliber of talent shaping the future of aerospace. We are proud to recognize their achievements and their impact on aerospace.”
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