Dr. Nancy Diaz-Elsayed is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of South Florida (USF). She is the Director of the Smart and Sustainable Systems Laboratory (S3 Lab) where her research integrates data-driven methods to advance smart, sustainable, and resilient engineered systems. Her scholarly interests include resource-efficient manufacturing, decision-support technologies, circular economy strategies, and the role of industrial symbiosis in shaping sustainable urban environments. She has received numerous honors for her contributions to research, education, and mentorship including the 2025 Florida Undergraduate Research Association Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, the 2024 USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Dr. Kathleen Moore Junior Faculty Excellence Award, and the 2022 SME Sandra L. Bouckley Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award. Dr. Diaz-Elsayed earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.