Peter Ifju Peter Ifju, Ph.D., is the associate chair of faculty development in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in materials engineering science in 1992. Discovery magazine granted Dr. Ifju a Top Ten Technology Innovation Award for micro air vehicle development in 2000. His research interests include the development, application, and fielding of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for natural resources and agriculture, micro air vehicles, and experimental stress analysis Technologies Graphite/Epoxy Composite Alloy that Counters Twisting Effect Under Applied Force