Megan Duncan

When Megan Duncan enrolled in Arizona State University’s materials science and engineering degree program, she came for the connections and resources available to students. Still, investigating photovoltaic systems in Australia wasn’t on her bingo card.

Choosing to study in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, opened doors to a broad range of projects. Duncan says one of the strengths of her new degree is its versatility.

“MSE grads can do anything, any type of engineering and sciences,” she says.

During her time at ASU, she worked on various projects. She competed in DomesDay, an annual competition held by ASM International, where students from across the country design and build geodesic domes.

“We got first place, and our dome withstood 5,000 pounds of crushing force,” she says.

For her capstone project, Duncan worked in ASU’s Photovoltaic Foundry to design a process for producing ductile iron with significantly enhanced performance. She and the team created a material with three times the toughness of what the foundry had previously used. Her work spread to other small foundries throughout the country.

She also worked with Feng Yan, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, on a photovoltaic investigation in Australia during the summer of 2025.

Duncan says she knew she was on the right path when she earned her first internship.

“I felt like I deserved it and I was ready for it,” she says. “My major and classes prepared me for that.”

Duncan also developed her leadership skills, which, as an aspiring teacher and researcher, will help set her up for a successful career. 

As the vice president for Materials Advantage at ASU, she helped guide new students in accessing, as she puts it, “the best resources in the country.”

“I loved interacting with students and helping them earn jobs, internships and fostering relationships,” she says.

She credits much of her success to support from Logan Tsosie, a graduate teaching associate and lab manager in the materials science and engineering program.

“He has helped me get scholarships, jobs and more successes that I can count,” she says. 

After graduation, Duncan plans to pursue a doctoral program and a career in academia, combining her interests in teaching and research.

“I would like to lead a research group that explores first principles in materials science,” she says. “I hope that energy generation technologies can benefit from my future work.”

Favorites

Hobby: Running
Performer: Lady Gaga
Movie: The Devil Wears Prada
Book: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Game: Dungeons and Dragons

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by Roger Ndayisaba