2026 News

2026

2025 2027

Aug 04

Translating chemical engineering into biotech breakthroughs

In the human body, chemical engineers see a collection of chemical and physical processes. Their expertise in how to model processes is a distinguishing qualification for modeling biological systems.

Jul 17

Smarter math, better power grids

Research from Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Chemical Engineering reveals that the mathematical shortcuts traditionally used to plan our energy grids have a blind spot.

Jul 15

Smarter predictions for smokey skies

Researchers in the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies investigate the inconsistent predictions about the radiative effect of biomass burning aerosols, the tiny smoke particles released when forests and agricultural fields burn.

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.

See More Stories

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.

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

Alumni earn Rising Star Professorships

Two ChemE alumni from the Ph.D. program's class of 2021 have been recognized with Rising Star Professorships at Purdue University. Can Li develops optimization and machine learning methods for applications in energy, chemical and biological systems. David Bernal Neira applies mathematical and computational methods to large-scale optimization problems in process systems and energy engineering. Both are assistant professors in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering at Purdue.

Engineering faculty awarded for academic and research achievements

The 2026 Engineering faculty award winners have been selected by the Engineering Faculty Awards and Recognition Committee for their exceptional achievements in academics and research. Award winners include Katherine Flanigan, Tzahi Cohen-Karni, Peter Adams, Noelia Grande Gutiérrez, Patrick Tague, Valerie Karplus, Chris Pistorius, Kaushik Dayal, Kathryn Whitehead, and Keith Cook.

Surprenant earns ACS Leadership in Mentoring Award

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has honored Ph.D. student Sunny Surprenant with its Leadership in Mentoring Award, which recognizes outstanding efforts and impact in research and safety mentoring. Surprenant is part of Assistant Professor Daphne Chan's research group.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Gordon explains how climate change is increasing rainfall

ChemE’s Hamish Gordon was quoted in a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on how climate change is increasing rainfall in the Pittsburgh region.

More Mentions