January 2025
Samuel Leventini, Mechanical Engineering
From Central Valley Roots to Aerospace Frontiers
When Samuel Leventini walks into the lab at UC Merced, he carries more than notebooks and data sheets — he carries the weight of a family legacy. A Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering, Leventini is part of a lineage of educators from the Central Valley. His parents and grandfathers taught generations of students, and from an early age, he knew he wanted to follow in their footsteps. “I have always believed that education is a powerful tool for helping the world and others get to where they wish to go, and being someone to guide another in their pursuit of knowledge has always felt right to me.”
He grew up in the heart of the Central Valley, surrounded by the rhythms of hard work, community and a deep respect for learning. That environment shaped his values and gave him a sense of responsibility to contribute back. UC Merced, with its mission to serve the region, became the natural place for him to pursue graduate studies.
Leventini’s academic passion lies in tribology, the study of friction, wear and lubrication. It’s a field that often goes unnoticed, but he sees it as the hidden heartbeat of mechanical systems. “No one usually thinks about friction when building something,” Leventini said. “But wear over time can derail any project. The little things matter.” That philosophy drives his research and reflects his broader outlook: small details, when overlooked, can have enormous consequences.
While his faculty advisor, Professor Ashlie Martini, continues to inspire him to push boundaries, Leventini credits his former Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center mentor, Professor Edgar Perez Lopez, with changing his perspective on doctoral studies. “At first, the Ph.D. felt daunting,” Samuel recalled. “But he showed me it’s really a test of will and tenacity. Learning what you don’t know and applying what you do.” That encouragement helped him embrace challenges with confidence, balancing the demands of research with life outside the lab.
Today, Leventini’s research focuses on aerospace dry film lubricants — specialized coatings designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space. By testing how these materials respond to different environments and geometries, his work ensures they’re reliable before being deployed in aerospace applications. “This research expands the limits of what we can achieve in space,” Leventini said. “This study helps improve on what has been built upon by other aerospace researchers and expands the limits of what we can achieve in space.” His work has the potential to improve spacecraft performance, reduce risks and open new possibilities for exploration beyond Earth.
One of his proudest achievements isn’t just in the lab — it’s in the classroom. As a graduate student mentor, he has guided undergraduates who later pursued master’s degrees in tribology. “I am proud to have been able to help them and see what they have accomplished since I met them as undergrads,” he said.
Leventini’s journey is a testament to the power of mentorship, perseverance and the belief that small details can change the world. From his Central Valley roots to his aerospace research, he embodies UC Merced’s mission: advancing knowledge while uplifting others.
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