Gregory Lowry
Hamerschlag University Professors, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Courtesy Appointment, Chemical Engineering
Greg Lowry is a Hamershlag University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is an executive and associate editor of the ACS Journal Environmental Science & Technology. His environmental nanotechnology and chemistry research aims to improve the efficiency and resilience of crop agriculture, environmental remediation, and water treatment.
Lowry holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of California at Davis, an M.S. in civil and environmental engineering from University of Wisconsin at Madison, and a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University. He was a postdoc at Stanford in the Geological and Environmental Sciences Department.
He has published over 230 scientific articles and is a “highly cited” scientist (top 1%) in the area of ecology and environment. He has received research awards from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (Science Award), American Society of Civil Engineers (Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Award), Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (Malcolm Pirnie/AEESP Frontiers in Research Award), and from his University (Casasent Outstanding Research Award). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a Fellow of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
Soil sensing autonomous robotics
Discovering how Nanoparticles Dissolve in Natural Water Environments
Nanoparticles in Complex Environmental Systems
Education
2000 Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University
1995 MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin
1992 BS, Chemical Engineering, University of California
Research Interests
- AI, energy, and climate
- Climate-resilient environmental systems and technologies
- emerging energy technologies
- energy storage
- environmental engineering
- environmental nanotechnology
- environmental remediation
- grid-interactive, high-performance, and electrified buildings
- Mechanics, chemistry, and materials
- nanoscience
Media mentions
CMU Engineering
Environmental engineering junior wins Goldwater scholarship
Jana Reiser, a junior environmental engineering major, is headed for a promising career in interdisciplinary research after winning the prestigious Barry Goldwater scholarship for STEM undergraduates.
CMU Engineering
Forever chemicals, made simple
Civil and environmental engineering researchers provide a roadmap to simplify PFAS destruction in water resources using heterogeneous catalysis, a more sustainable and cost-effective approach.
CMU Engineering
Robotics for environmental innovation
A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers is seeking to understand how robotics can help engineers address environmental challenges, such as monitoring affected soils.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Four CEE faculty named endowed chairs
The College of Engineering announced eight new endowed chairs. Four are professors in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Faculty award winners announced
Congratulations to the 2024 faculty award winners who represent six departments across the College of Engineering. The recipients were recognized for their achievements as researchers and educators.
CMU Engineering
How medical models can transform agriculture
At the intersection of plants and nanomedicine perhaps lies a solution to current unsustainable agricultural practices and meeting increasing global food demands.
CMU Engineering
Undergraduates present research at Meeting of the Minds 2024
Engineering undergraduate students had a wonderful showing at Meeting of the Minds, displaying posters, giving presentations, and demonstrating projects they have worked on this past academic year.
CMU Engineering
Carnegie Mellon alumni fund climate adaptation research
Generous commitment from Yeming and Aaron Rankin will support research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Scott Institute.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Carnegie Mellon alumni fund climate adaptation research
Generous commitment from Yeming and Aaron Rankin will support research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Scott Institute.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Carnegie Mellon alumni fund climate adaptation research
Yeming and Aaron Rankin, Carnegie Mellon alumni, make a transformative commitment establishing the Engineering Resilience for Climate Adaptation Fund, fostering impactful research. Their generous initiative aims to cultivate a center of excellence, driving innovation and resilience to combat climate change's impact, ultimately shaping a more sustainable future.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
New directions: graduate program changes reflect an evolving field and future
CEE faculty is revamping graduate programs to address pressing challenges like climate change and inequities with four new pathways—IESS, CREST, SETS, and MCM—equipping students with interdisciplinary skills to drive positive change. These changes will also impact undergraduate research and PhD topics, fostering innovation in civil and environmental engineering.
CMU Engineering
Immunizing plants against climate stress with nanoparticles
Professor Greg Lowry has created nanoparticles that can immunize a plant against extreme heat for a 15 day window.
CMU Engineering
How sustainable is online grocery delivery?
Researchers investigated the impacts of online grocery delivery on energy use, emissions, and traffic congestion.
Carnegie Mellon University
Three Engineering faculty named University Professors
Three College of Engineering faculty members have been elevated to the rank of University Professor, the highest distinction a faculty member can receive at Carnegie Mellon: CEE Head Burcu Akinci, CyLab Director Lorrie Faith Cranor, and CEE’s Greg Lowry.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Akinci and Lowry named University Professors
CEE Professors Burcu Akinci and Greg Lowry have been elevated to the rank of University Professor, the highest distinction a faculty member can receive at Carnegie Mellon.
Clarivate
Lowry among Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers
CEE’s Greg Lowry was listed as one of Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers in the category of Environment and Ecology in the 2022 rankings.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
The rise of digital twins
Part Three: A Space Ripe for Innovation & Industry Collaboration
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Analyzing waste pit contaminants
Professor Greg Lowry is using robots to increase both safety and speed in the remediation process. He is working to develop terrestrial robots that can potentially autonomously explore natural environments, select sample locations, extract samples, and analyze the data online without exposing humans to hazardous conditions.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Kagdi named HECC Fellow
Kagdi is a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and received her BE in Environmental Engineering from Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering, India. She is currently being advised by Professor Greg Lowry.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Summer research: Plant nanotechnology REU
"This research provides information for the specific characteristics that nanoparticles should have in order to develop targeted nanocarriers. Also, it will help future researchers to continue with studies on specific organelles inside the cell," said Manzano.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Waldvogel works on LANL sustainability and zero-carbon plans
In her current position at LANL, Waldvogel is able to fulfill what she calls her passion—solving problems while making processes more efficient.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Saudi awarded D'Appolonia Fellowship
Dr. D'Appolonia helped to define and develop the multidisciplinary, creative nature of civil and environmental engineering at CMU.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Lowry and colleagues receive two NSF awards for nanoparticle research
The first grant will fund research on the potential of nanoparticles as a nitrogen delivery system. The second award will allow Lowry to create nano-enabled materials that can contribute to personalized biomanufacturing.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Nanoparticles for cleaner water
Lowry and his colleagues conducted experiments by incorporating different amounts of sulfur into NZVI particles. They analyzed the resulting SNZVI particles’ properties, including hydrophobicity, electron transfer, and sulfur speciation, and how SNZVI interacted with TCE.
CMU Engineering
Nanoparticles to immunize plants against heat stress
Greg Lowry and Bob Tilton have created a new type of nanoparticle that may be able to immunize plants against harsh environmental conditions and pathogens.
TechCrunch
Lowry’s nanoparticle research featured
CEE’s Greg Lowry’s nanoparticle research was featured in TechCrunch.
CMU Engineering
The future of pesticides and fertilizers
Greg Lowry has demonstrated for the first time the ability of engineered nanoparticles to target specific structures on plant leaves.
Environmental Science and Technology
Lowry joins Environmental Science & Technology journal
CEE’s Greg Lowry was named executive editor for Environmental Science & Technology journal.
TechCrunch
Lowry and team featured in TechCrunch
Research by CEE’s Greg Lowry and his collaborators was featured in TechCrunch. The team has discovered a new method for delivering key nutrients to plant roots. This method would help plants absorb nearly 100% of nutrients and pesticides sprayed onto their leaves.
CMU Engineering
A new route for plant nutrient delivery
CMU researchers have discovered a way to deliver nanoparticles into plant leaves for efficient delivery to the root, paving the way toward sustainable food production.
CMU Engineering
Lowry elected 2018 AAAS fellow
Greg Lowry has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his efforts in advancing environmental engineering and the use of nanomaterials.
CMU Engineering
Water matters to metal nanoparticles
CMU researchers make breakthrough discovery that gold nanoparticles can dissolve when they interact with freshwater aquatic plants—instead of remaining stable as commonly thought.
CMU Engineering
The future of agriculture is science
Greg Lowry works on NAS committee to identify science breakthroughs for sustainable and resilient agriculture.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Lowry quoted on fertilizer runoff
CEE’s Gregory Lowry was quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about methods to prevent fertilizer runoff and the environmental impacts thereof to consider.
CMU Engineering
NanoFARM: Using nanoparticles to grow food
The answer to the growing, worldwide food production problem may have a tiny solution—nanoparticles.
CMU Engineering
Professorships honor academic leaders
Through endowed professorships, the college honors and supports faculty by providing the resources they need to remain at the forefront of their fields.