2026 News

2026

2025 2027

Jul 08

Optimizing for early success in research

Research in process systems engineering, recognized by AIChE's Outstanding Young Researcher Award, led Carnegie Mellon alumni to careers in higher education.

Jun 22

CRS honors Whitehead with Women in Science Award

The Controlled Release Society has named Chemical Engineering Professor Kathryn Whitehead the recipient of the 2026 Women in Science Award, which recognizes an internationally renowned woman scientist for outstanding contributions to delivery science and technology.

Jun 09

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.

Jun 08

Presidential and graduate fellowships announced Opens in new window

College of Engineering students have been awarded fellowships for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Jun 05

An engineer’s approach to award-winning writing

Patrice Gopo, Carnegie Mellon University class of 2001, has journeyed from a chemical engineer to an award-winning essayist and children's book author.

May 27

An Unexpected Spike in Nighttime Pollution

Chemical reactions previously thought to require sunlight are flourishing in the dark—and stinking up the night air.

May 26

Purifying the future

Keenan Norton heads to Ecuador as a Fulbright Scholar to research cutting-edge water treatment for communities affected by industrial mining.

May 11

Commencement Wrap Up

The Department of Chemical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University celebrated its 2026 diploma ceremony on Saturday, May 9 during Commencement Weekend. Students earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees were lauded for the completion of their academic programs, with many earning additional honors.

May 08

ChemE celebrates its ACS Scholars

Chemical Engineering's Keenan Norton and Zeynep Orucu were among this year's Andrew Carnegie Society Scholars. These graduating seniors embody Carnegie Mellon’ University's high standards of academic excellence, volunteerism, leadership, and involvement in student organizations, athletics, or the arts. They were selected by their dean and department head to represent their class in service and leadership.

May 08

To study air, clouds, and climate, good data goes a long way Opens in new window

Albert Presto, director of the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies, used support from the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation’s hardware and software tool upgrade program to acquire a new sulfur dioxide monitor, which enables CAPS researchers to conduct critical field work and gather insightful data.

Apr 30

Moving the Needle — or the Thermostat — for Sustainability

By helping to bring the International Freezer Challenge to CMU, chemical engineering lab manager Trish Hredzak is showing that something as simple as defrosting a freezer can make a global impact.

Apr 16

Jen, Tedesco honored at Celebration of Education

At Carnegie Mellon University's Celebration of Education, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering Coty Jen and Ph.D. candidate Carolina Colombo Tedesco earned recognition for their exceptional contributions in teaching innovation and service.

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Apr 10

Victor Alves joins ChemE faculty

The Department of Chemical Engineering is pleased to announce its newest faculty member, Assistant Professor Victor Alves, effective August 2026. Alves collaborates with researchers to bring his unique data science expertise to a wide range of challenges.

Apr 09

Alum E. Gerald Meyer honored with Lifetime Impact Award

Carnegie Mellon University celebrates alumnus E. Gerald Meyer (ChemE 1940, 1942) with the Lifetime Impact Award for his many contributions that have left an enduring mark on CMU and the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering.

Mar 17

Polymers, prototypes, and Penguins Opens in new window

In season nine of Rethink the Rink, students solve issues associated with goalie chest protectors, including impact absorption, mobility, and functionality.

Mar 06

Tapeworms inspire medical device created during summer undergraduate research fellowship

Olivia LaFond, a Carnegie Mellon University senior majoring in biomedical and chemical engineering, created a 3D-printed device that one day could reduce the need for invasive procedures or help deliver medication directly inside the body over time.

Feb 17

AI in the catalysis labs of the future

In Nature Catalysis, Chemical Engineering professor John Kitchin and his co-authors propose a roadmap for integrating AI into catalysis in order to accelerate the design, discovery, and optimization of new catalytic materials and processes.

Feb 03

Hijacking red blood cells allows parasite to escape Opens in new window

Researchers discovered that the parasite Babesia microti uses red blood cells to migrate. It may be a way to evade the immune system and find new space to multiply.

Research paper Opens in new window

Jan 29

Accelerating materials innovation through AI and data science Opens in new window

By leveraging expertise in materials and artificial intelligence from across departments, researchers from Carnegie Mellon are exploring solutions to the challenges facing materials discovery.

Watch the Video Opens in new window

Jan 27

Alum spotlight: Trevor Hadick

A healthcare marketing consultant and a national match official for US Soccer, Trevor Hadick (‘17) goes from one pitch to another.

Jan 15

Teaching tomorrow’s innovators with living materials

The Bugs as Materials summer internship program creates pathways to research and higher education by training high school students and graduate students side-by-side.

Jan 05

Ocean winds and tides bring new data for climate models

Coty Jen and her students tested their prototype instruments on the coast of Maine. Their measurements will help identify the role that emissions from seaweed play in atmospheric processes.

Media Mentions

Drug Delivery Leader

Sevenler Q&A in Drug Delivery Leader

ChemE’s Derin Sevenler was interviewed by Drug Delivery Leader in a Q&A titled “Red blood cell-based delivery: Promising steps forward.”

FOPAM 2026 Conference

Kitchen, Laird discuss AI in education at FOPAM 2026

Professors John Kitchin and Carl Laird will present "Designing the Future Engineer: How AI Is Transforming Learning, Work, and Discovery" at the Foundations of Process/Product Analytics and Machine Learning (FOPAM) 2026 conference taking place July 26-30 in Decatur, GA. The session will include a discussion on responsible AI.

Conference

Grossmann co-chairs conference on North American supply chain

Professor of Chemical Engineering Ignacio Grossmann is serving as co-chair of From Resilience to New Opportunities: Building the North American Supply Chain of the Future. The conference, co-organized by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the Tecnológico de Monterrey Education Group, takes place October 27-28 in Mexico. Grossmann will also be speaking at the international event.

Nobel Symposia 206

Donahue serves on international organizing committee for Nobel Symposia

Professor of Chemical Engineering Neil Donahue served on the international organizing committee for the Nobel Symposia 206, titled From Molecules to Climate: A Fundamental Understanding of Chemistry in Earth's Atmosphere. During the conference, which takes place June 29 - July 2, 2026 at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Donahue will speak about the chemistry and physics that couple organic oxidation to particle formation and growth.

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