Evan Walter Clark Spotte-Smith
Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Evan Walter Clark Spotte-Smith (they/them) will join the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University as an assistant professor of chemical engineering, beginning in the fall of 2025. Their research primarily focuses on leveraging computational simulations and data science to understand reactivity in complex systems, including electrochemical interfaces and solid-state syntheses. They are also interested in the potential of high-throughput experimentation using the CMU Cloud Lab. While much of their research involves developing general-purpose data and software, they are especially interested in applications in the areas of catalysis and sustainability.
Spotte-Smith received their Ph.D. and master’s degrees in materials science and engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and their bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering from Columbia University. They are currently a Carnegie Bosch Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, collaborating with Rachel Kurchin, an assistant research professor of materials science and engineering at CMU. Spotte-Smith previously completed a postdoctoral fellowship working with Gabe Gomes, an assistant professor of chemical engineering and chemistry, also at CMU.
Education
2023 Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
2021 MS, Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
2019 BS, Materials Science and Engineering, Columbia University
Media mentions
Carnegie Bosch Institute
Meet CBI fellow Evan Spotte-Smith
Evan Spotte-Smith (they/them) will join CMU's Department of Chemical Engineering as a faculty member in the Fall of 2025. The CBI Fellowship will provide them with the resources to pursue research that will give them new skills–particularly in machine learning and catalysis–which sets them up for success in their faculty career.
Carnegie Bosch Institute
Learn about CBI faculty host Rachel Kurchin's work with CBI Fellow Evan Spotte-Smith
Rachel Kurchin is an assistant research professor in materials science and engineering, leading the Accelerated Computation of Materials for Energy (ACME) group. She and CBI fellow Evan Spotte-Smith are working on an alternative method to synthesize ammonia using electrochemistry, which could more easily leverage renewable energy and therefore be more environmentally friendly.
Nature
Spotte-Smith quoted on AI ethics
ChemE’s Evan Spotte-Smith spoke with Nature in regards to the ethics of AI, specifically pertaining to intellectual property. “Removing peoples’ names from their work can be really damaging, especially for early-career scientists or people working in places in the global south,” Spotte-Smith explained.
Chemical Engineering
Evan Walter Clark Spotte-Smith joins ChemE faculty
In fall 2025, the Department of Chemical Engineering will welcome Evan Walter Clark Spotte-Smith as an assistant professor.