February 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, Samuel knew he wanted to follow in their footsteps. “Education has always felt like the right path,” he said. “It’s a powerful tool for helping the world and guiding others to where they want to go.”
Raised in Modesto, California, Samuel 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 UROC mentor, Professor Edgar Perez Lopez, with changing his perspective on doctoral studies. “At first, the Ph.D. felt daunting,” Leventini recalled. “But Edgar 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. “It builds on what others have done but also pushes us forward.” His work has the potential to improve spacecraft performance, reduce risks, and open new possibilities for exploration beyond Earth.
For Leventini, 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. “Seeing them grow from undergrads to graduate students is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “It’s proof that education is a legacy, something you pass on.”
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. As he continues his Ph.D. journey, he is not only shaping the future of mechanical engineering but also inspiring the next generation to dream bigger, reach further and believe in the transformative power of education.
