Aisulu Aitbekova

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering

Aisulu Aitbekova is an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on developing catalytic processes to make fuels and chemicals. Specifically, her group is interested in coupling light and heat to drive chemical reactions in new and efficient ways. Aitbekova's experience extends from developing materials at the nanoscale, to controlling the environment around these materials at the microscale, to developing processes at the macroscale.

Aitbekova received her Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Stanford University, her master's degree in chemical engineering practice from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. Most recently, she was a Kavli Nanoscience Institute Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology.

Email: aitbekova@cmu.edu

Google Scholar: Aisulu Aitbekova

Websites: Aitbekova Group

Research Interests

Media mentions

C&EN

Aitbekova awarded for innovative research

ChemE’s Aisulu Aitbekova was recently honored as one of Chemical and Engineering News’ Talented Twelve. The award recognizes scientists tackling major challenges through chemistry.

Chemical Engineering

Shedding light on a more sustainable future

Recognized as an early-career innovator in C&EN's Talented 12, Chemical Engineering's Aisulu Aitbekova is looking to harness heat and light to propel innovative methods for catalysis.

Chemistry & Engineering News

Aitbekova Among C&EN's Talented 12

Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Aisulu Aitbekova has been named to the prestigious Talented 12 Class of 2026 by Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN). Selected from over 500 nominated rising stars of science, she researches how light and heat can produce sustainable chemicals. Her work has spanned thermal catalysis, photochemistry, and reactor engineering.

Chemical Engineering