Mentions
2026
2025
December
McComb on AI tools
Professional Engineering Magazine
MechE’s Chris McComb reminds new engineers to learn AI tools while still building deep expertise in core engineering principles in Professional Engineering Magazine.
Halilaj collaborates with AI at Meta
AI at Meta
MechE’s Eni Halilaj worked with AI at Meta to capture and analyze human movement in clinical settings, opening the doors to personalized, data-driven insights in the recovery process.
Jen collaboration studies algae emissions in the Gulf of Maine
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
ChemE’s Coty Jen was spotlighted by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences for a collaborative field study of particle formation in the air over the Gulf of Maine. The team is working to understand what kinds of particles are forming in the atmosphere, how quickly, and how that process is controlled by marine algae. Their measurements are critical in predicting how ocean microbial communities influence climate.
Four Engineering alumni among Alumni Award winners
Carnegie Mellon University
Four College of Engineering alumni were selected to join this year’s cohort of Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Awards honorees: Samantha Allen (INI 2015), Recent Alumni Service Award; Halil Kulluck (ENG 1985), Alumni Service Award; Joanna M. Livengood (ENG 1980, 1991), Alumni Achievement Award; and Tyelisa Shields (INI 2010), Alumni Service Award.
INI alumnus sells two startups
Information Networking Institute
INI alumnus Karthik Suresh has successfully sold two of his startups, Ignition and DoubleO.ai.
November
Niepa’s magnetic capsules offer a novel way to study microbes
Chemical & Engineering News
ChemE/BME’s Tagbo Niepa developed tiny magnetic capsules that can grow unculturable microbes in soil or ocean water and then be retrieved. The technology, which could move research out of the lab, was featured in Chemical & Engineering News.
Whitehead listed as Highly Cited Researcher
Clarivate
ChemE’s Kathryn Whitehead has been recognized on the Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list from Clarivate. The list celebrates the highest standards of impact and integrity in science and scholarship. In the field of pharmacology and toxicology, Whitehead has authored multiple Highly Cited Papers that rank in the top 1% by citations and publication year in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past 11 years.
Ren talks living robots on syndicated podcast
The Last Show with David Cooper
BME’s Charlie Ren was recently featured on “The Last Show” with David Cooper (Season 3, Episode 334), where he discussed his lab’s groundbreaking work on tiny “living robots” made from human lung cells. These AggreBots, or microscale, cell-based robots, are being developed to one day navigate the body’s complex environments and deliver targeted therapeutic or mechanical interventions.
October
INI faculty share cybersecurity insights
Information Networking Institute
INI’s Taha Khan, Michael Mattarock, David Varodayan, and Hanan Hibshi share their cybersecurity insights in honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Marom elected as APS Fellow
Carnegie Mellon University
MSE’s Noa Marom has been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS), which recognizes excellence in physics and exceptional service to the community. “Noa’s election as a Fellow in the American Physical Society is a testimony to the caliber of her research and her interdisciplinary expertise,” said MSE Head Beth Dickey. “This honor is very well deserved and our department is fortunate to have her as part of our community.”
Grossmann delivers Shell Lecture at Rice University
Rice University
ChemE’s Ignacio Grossmann was a featured speaker in the Shell Lecture Series presented by the Department of Computational Mathematics & Operations Research at Rice University. His talk was titled “Challenges in the application of mathematical programming approaches to industrial enterprise-wide optimization.”
Carley discusses AI at Murrysville Community Library
TribLIVE
CyLab’s Kathleen Carley gave a presentation about the good and bad sides of AI for the American Association of University Women’s Murrysville chapter at the Murrysville Community Library. While AI can help with simple tasks like spell check or writing a paragraph, “our studies have shown that you as a human being have a difficult time recognizing if something is being posted by a ‘bot’ social media account, especially if it’s saying something you agree with,” Carley said.
Taheri-Mousavi quoted on new printable aluminum alloy
Multiple outlets
MSE’s Mohadeseh Taheri-Mousavi helped develop a new printable aluminum alloy that can withstand high temperatures and is five times stronger than traditionally manufactured aluminum. “If we can use lighter, high-strength material, this would save a considerable amount of energy for the transportation industry,” said Taheri-Mousavi, who led this research as a postdoc at MIT. This new aluminum alloy could have implications for the aviation industry, as researchers envision this material could be made into lightweight, temperature-resistant fan blades for jet engines. This work was covered in multiple outlets, including Tech Xplore, Metal AM, and WebWire.
Whitacre quoted in Marketplace
Marketplace
EPP/MSE’s Jay Whitare spoke with Marketplace about the shift battery producers and suppliers are making from products that powered electric vehicles to those that can hold electricity for the grid.
Samaras discusses electricity crisis
“Why is this happening?” podcast
Scott Institute Director Costa Samaras was recently featured discussing the electricity crisis in the US on Chris Hayes’ podcast “Why is this happening?”
Grossmann addresses Mexican Society of Operations Research
Mexican Society of Operations Research
ChemE’s Ignacio Grossmann gave a plenary talk at the 2025 Congress of the Mexican Society of Operations Research in Leon, Mexico. His address was titled “Digital supply chains: The role of optimization techniques.”
Baruch Fischhoff book release and celebration
EPP’s Baruch Fischhoff is releasing a new book, Decisions: Studying and Supporting People Facing Hard Choices, on October 14. Join the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) and the Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) to celebrate on Tuesday, October 28, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m., in Posner Hall Grand Room (340). Fischhoff, a pioneer in decision research, will discuss the interplay between basic and applied research on topics including health, safety, environment, and personal and national security. EPP’s Granger Morgan will provide an insightful dialogue of the book. Register today for this free event.
INI CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service Renewed
The Information Networking Institute is proud to announce a $1 million renewal of the National Science Foundation (NSF) CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program. Led by principal investigator and INI Director Dena Haritos Tsamitis, the SFS program at CMU (SFS@CMU) supports a select cohort of graduate security students to prepare for careers in federal service.
Rounce receives early career award
The American Geophysical Union
CEE’s David Rounce has been selected by the American Geophysical Union as a recipient of the 2025 Cryosphere Early Career Award, which recognizes early career contributions to Cryospheric Sciences and Technology.
Congratulations to College of Engineering Andy Award recipients
Carnegie Mellon University
Congratulations to two College of Engineering staff members who were recognized for their meaningful contributions at Carnegie Mellon’s 31st annual Andy Awards ceremony on October 1, 2025. Brian Belowich, facilities co-director and senior project engineer for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was recognized for his Commitment to Students. Kaycee Palko, academic advisor for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was recognized with the Spirit award.
September
Jaramillo named one of 30 Trailblazing Hispanic Women in tech
WomenTech Network
EPP’s Paulina Jaramillo was named one of “30 Trailblazing Hispanic Women Shaping the Future of Tech” by WomenTech Network. Among those recognized include software engineers and data scientists alongside founders and senior executives of major corporations. Jaramillo’s research spans global energy transitions, climate change, and sustainable infrastructure. She has an interest in energy access in the Global South and has worked to bridge the gap between science and policy in sustainable energy development and consumption.
Michalek comments on electric vehicle adoption as tax credits expire
Automotive News
EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek spoke with Automotive News about what the future may hold for electric vehicles, as incentivizing tax credits expire. Michalek noted that the outlook for EVs is as negative as it may first appear, despite the loss of the incentives. “Upfront price, longer range, faster ability to recharge ... those things continue to get better,” he said. “There’s still a reason why we might expect a future with higher electric vehicle adoption, even if it’s not happening as fast as we might have initially thought.”
Hendrickson receives award from Transportation Research Board
Transportation Research Board
CEE’s Chris Hendrickson has been awarded the Transportation Research Board’s Roy W. Crum Award for 2025, which honors him for fifty years of leadership in the field of transportation research. His prolific work has been influential in transforming practice and policy in the field, and he is also well-respected for his leadership and mentorship.
Jaramillo on climate change regulations
AP News
EPP’s Paulina Jaramillo was quoted in an AP News story about the National Academy of Science (NAS)’s response to efforts by the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to roll back more than a decade of regulations aimed at fighting climate change. In particular, the EPA is challenging a 2009 finding that climate change poses a danger to public health, a finding the NAS insists has been strengthened by new evidence over the years. In contrast, the administration released its own reports, saying that the effects of climate change will be weaker than forecasted. The NAS denounced these reports as flawed. Jaramillo characterized the two groups: “The National Academy of Sciences is the premier scientific organization in the United States,” she said. “In contrast, the DOE report was authored by five scientists known to be climate skeptics.”
Luhanga discusses human-centric AI
Cell
CMU-Africa’s Edith Luhanga was interviewed by Cell about her work using human-centric AI to advance maternal health, child nutrition, online safety, and financial inclusion in several African countries. Luhanga works with health applications to deliver timely health interventions through a smartphone. However, limited trust can often keep people from using these apps. “The GSMA 2025 Mobile Economy report shows that only 29% of people in sub-Saharan Africa use mobile internet—and much of this gap is due to low adoption rather than lack of coverage,” Luhanga said. “If people still do not see the value of the internet, then perhaps we have not yet created resources that are truly valuable to them.”
Jayan named one of 20 People to Know in Engineering
Pittsburgh Business Times
MechE’s Reeja Jayan was named by the Pittsburgh Business Times as one of the 20 People to Know in Engineering. 20 People to Know works to connect the Pittsburgh community with influential individuals in their fields. In addition to her appointment at CMU, Jayan is the CEO of SeaLion Energy, which works to maximize usable battery capacity without reducing battery life.
Michalek discusses impact of slowing EV adoption
The Conversation
EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek writes in a new article for The Conversation about how the elimination of most incentives for EV adoption has led to the collapse of U.S. investment in EV-related production. However, Michalek’s research suggests that “turning away from electric vehicles does more than miss a chance to curb transportation emissions—it also misses an opportunity to make the nation’s electricity supply cleaner,” Michalek writes.
Michalek quoted on how EVs could reduce power sector emissions
E&E News
EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek was quoted by E&E News about how EV adoption could lead to increased investment in wind, solar, storage, and new natural gas for power generation. “Those are cheaper to operate, so once you build them, they’re the first ones that get dispatched,” Michalek said. “So that means they’re going to displace fossil fuels even at times when EVs are not charging.”
BME graduate student scores 2025 Hematology Inclusion Pathway Graduate Student Award
American Society of Hematology
BME Ph.D. student Joel Disu has been selected by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to receive the 2025 Hematology Inclusion Pathway Graduate Student Award. He will receive an annual $40,000 stipend for a two-year period to fund his research and attend the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. Disu’s research focuses on developing better tools to assess pain in patients with Sickle Cell Disease, a genetic blood disorder that affects more than 20 million individuals worldwide.
CMU alumna receives Outstanding Collegiate Member Award from SWE
Society of Women Engineers
Katherine Wu (MSE/BME ’25) received the Outstanding Collegiate Member Award from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). This award recognizes students for their exemplary academic achievements and honors those who have made significant contributions to their campus, community, and SWE. Wu served as the president of CMU’s SWE for the 2024-2025 school year, where she directed more than 250 general body members and led a 21-person executive board. She worked to establish a Campus Engagement Chair position and expanded the club’s outreach and corporate relations initiatives. Wu is also a Feldman Presidential and Sutch Scholarship recipient and will be joining Medtronic as a quality engineer.
August
Cranor quoted on privacy concerns when traveling
PCMag
CyLab Director Lorrie Cranor was quoted by PCMag about data privacy concerns when traveling. While many U.S. adults express concern about their data while in transit, few take the necessary steps to stay secure. “You are tracked when you use a credit card or cellphone, and most of us are not going to forgo those conveniences,” said Cranor. “It is difficult to do much about a lot of the privacy invasions in the world, and most people have understandably become resigned to the fact that their privacy is being invaded.”
Biegler ranked on ScholarGPS
ScholarGPS
ChemE’s Lorenz Biegler was ranked #1 in process optimization for 2024 on ScholarGPS. Highly Ranked Scholars™ are determined based on productivity and impact, including their number of publications, citations, and h-index.
Grossmann ranked on ScholarGPS
ScholarGPS
ChemE’s Ignacio Grossmann was ranked #10 in chemical engineering for 2024 on ScholarGPS. Highly Ranked Scholars™ are determined based on productivity and impact, including their number of publications, citations, and h-index.
Khair receives PSRI Fluidization and Fluid-Particle Systems Award
Khair receives PSRI Fluidization and Fluid-Particle Systems Award
ChemE’s Aditya Khair received the PSRI Fluidization and Fluid-Particle Systems Award. This award recognizes an individual’s outstanding scientific and technical research contributions to the field of fluidization and fluid-particle flow systems. Khair will be presented with the award at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers annual meeting this fall in Boston.
Abbott tackles science of cellular agriculture on podcast
Columbia Climate School
BME’s Rosalyn Abbott was recently interviewed on Columbia Climate School's podcast, Food Pod for Humanity, Season 2 Episode 5, discussing the science of cellular agriculture alongside David Kaplan (Tufts University). The episode also includes insights on market trends from Melissa Musiker (formerly UPSIDE Foods) and a discussion of GMO-related public perception and policy by Columbia graduate student Zoe Adamopoulos.
Samaras interviewed on rising energy costs
KQED
Scott Institute Director Costa Samaras was interviewed by KQED about reasons why energy bills have been increasing, and the consequences of recent legislation on renewable tax incentives. “This bill raises taxes on wind and solar power,” Samaras said. “It makes the types of power plants that have been the easiest to connect to the grid—namely solar—harder to connect, more expensive, and ultimately, that’s gonna flow down into consumers’ pockets.”
Samaras breaks down ways to upgrade electrical infrastructure in response to greater heat
Forbes
Scott Institute Director Costa Samaras was interviewed by Forbes on the changes our electrical infrastructure must undergo to keep up with a rapidly changing climate. “It’s virtually certain that it’s going to be hotter. So we should be planning for our social systems, our health system, our infrastructure systems, our energy systems to be able to withstand more intense and prolonged heatwaves. These are things that we might not think about, the way that it affects our electricity grid or our water system or our transportation system or even our rail system. More intense heat stresses our systems in ways that they weren't designed for,” Samaras said. “What’s clear is climate change is causing damage right now, and the more emissions we generate, the worse it’s going to be in the future. So it’s on us to get the world’s emissions to zero as fast as possible, while also building infrastructure, human and social systems, to be able to withstand the types of climate impacts that we see now and are going to see in the future.”
He discusses EEG potential in cutting-edge neurotech
Vox
BME’s Bin He was quoted in a Vox story exploring consumer wearables equipped with EEG that measure attention and endeavor to do more. “Non-invasive EEG is cheap and completely safe,” said Bin He, whose lab demonstrated the potential of this tech over a decade ago by building a drone you could fly with your mind. “AI, or deep-learning technology, however, has drastically improved the performance of [brain-computer interfaces] to read the minds of individuals.”
Khair recognized as a 2024 JFM Outstanding Reviewer
Cambridge University Press
ChemE’s Aditya Khair was recognized by the Journal of Fluid Mechanics (JFM) as a 2024 Outstanding Reviewer. This achievement, awarded to only 1% of the entire JFM community, recognizes the significant commitment of reviewers and is based on the timeliness and quality of their reviews along with input from the JFM Editorial Board.
July
Presto joins Africa Clean Air Network Advisory Council
Africa Clean Air Network
MechE’s Albert Presto has joined the Africa Clean Air Network’s Advisory Council to provide strategic guidance for the network. The Africa Clean Air Network is building cross-border, cross-sector, multi-skilled partnerships to deliver scalable, evidence-driven, and open-access clean air solutions for African cities.
Zhang received Sonia Kovalevsky Lecture Award
SIAM
MechE’s Jessica Zhang was honored with the AWM-SIAM Sonia Kovalevsky Lecture Award and delivered the lecture, titled “From Neurological Disorders to Additive Manufacturing: Integrating Isogeometric Analysis with Deep Learning and Digital Twins,” during the SIAM Annual Meeting on July 28 - August 1.
Weber discusses new wristband that controls computers
The New York Times
MechE’s Douglas Weber spoke with The New York Times about Meta’s new wristband that can control computers with hand movements. Researchers at CMU are putting the wristband to the test with people who have spinal cord injuries and lack full use of the arms or hands. The wristband works by reading the electrical signals in muscles when performing a movement, but with practice, the wristband wearer can control their smartphone by just thinking about moving. “We can see their intention type,” said Weber of people with spinal cord injuries who could benefit from this technology.
Rohrer awarded for outstanding teaching and mentoring
The American Ceramics Society
MSE’s Greg Rohrer was this year’s recipient of the American Ceramics Society’s Outstanding Educator Award, which is given in recognition of “truly outstanding work and creativity in teaching and mentoring, in directing student research, or in the general educational process (lectures, publications on education, workshops, textbooks, short courses, videos, interest lectures, etc.) among ceramic/glass educators.”
Webler represented iron- and steel-making research at energy summit
Carnegie Mellon University
MSE’s Bryan Webler attended the AI and Energy Summit, hosted by CMU, and spoke about his research in the iron- and steel-making industry. His research in advanced manufacturing will be important in shaping the future of the technologies discussed by the event. “There's been really big investment into the Pittsburgh ecosystem,” Webler said. “Not just from the federal government, but the state government, and even different foundations that have been really committed to bringing Pittsburgh into the advanced manufacturing era.”
Torres featured for work in sustainable chemistry
Mellon College of Science
ChemE’s Ana Torres and her colleagues were highlighted in a Mellon College of Science story. The group of researchers aims to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals in our environment by synthesizing less persistent or toxic alternatives. Torres is focusing on analyzing the end of a material’s lifecycle.
Gellman invited to contribute to Faraday Discussion
ChemE’s Andrew Gellman has been invited to contribute to a volume of the Faraday Discussions, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The topic of the volume is “Bridging the gap from surface science to heterogeneous catalysis,” and will be discussed at a meeting in London in April 2026. Faraday Discussions, honoring the legacy of renowned scientist Michael Faraday, are international meetings addressing ideas emerging at the forefront of physical sciences.
Michalek discusses the Big Beautiful Bill’s impact on clean energy
Marketplace
As a guest on a Marketplace podcast, EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek shared his thoughts on what Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” could mean for clean energy incentives. The law could drain domestic battery production for electric vehicles, suggesting that the U.S. may become more reliant on China for these materials. “We can’t run the energy economy on oil, gas, and coal forever—that will all run out,” Michalek said. “What’s really changed over the last decade is that battery technology has gotten so good and so cheap. That means that the transition [to clean energy] is going to happen. It’s happening globally, and it’s not like the United States can stop the global transition. All we can do is decide what part we want to play.”
Fedder discusses how Pittsburgh’s diverse economy attracts tech investments
NBC News
ECE’s Gary Fedder, director of the Manufacturing Futures Institute, explains on NBC News that AI being developed at Carnegie Mellon is creating new jobs and enabling existing jobs that will drive productivity in the industry of tomorrow. Much of that rebirth, he says, will be created by the universities.
Nock quoted on data centers’ impact on the power grid
WESA
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was quoted by WESA about how the potential influx of data centers in Pennsylvania could lead to higher electricity costs for users. New data centers could also impede goals of reducing harmful emissions if more energy is needed to power these centers, Nock said. “Because the rule is supply must always equal demand, if you need one megawatt to supply these data centers at night and solar is not on at night, then you will keep the oil power plant, you’ll keep the coal power plant,” Nock said.
Cagan named co-editor-in-chief of Design Science
Design Science
MechE Head Jonathan Cagan has been named co-editor-in-chief of Design Science, along with Anja Maier of the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Design Science is an international, multidisciplinary journal focused on science-based design knowledge.
Explore Engineering Expo featured among Pittsburgh destinations
Pittsburgh Magazine
The Explore Engineering Expo was featured in Pittsburgh Magazine among Pittsburgh destinations for the whole family. The College of Engineering outreach program gives school age kids an opportunity to develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and design skills while spending time on the Carnegie Mellon campus.
Kitchin discusses Carnegie Mellon joining MDS-Rely
TechVibe Pittsburgh
As a guest on the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s TechVibe Pittsburgh podcast, ChemE/MSE’s John Kitchin shared his thoughts on Carnegie Mellon joining the Center for Materials Data Science for Reliability and Degradation (MDS-Rely) research cooperative. It is the third university to join the National Science Foundation-funded initiative promoting collaboration between universities, industry, and government organizations. “Carnegie Mellon has quite a historical role in the development of AI and machine learning, going back to the fifties. The University of Pittsburgh and Case Western Reserve University bring to our collaboration equal depth in the materials and applications. And the two of them can’t work without each other; they go hand in hand,” says Kitchin.
June
Zhang receives ASME Van C. Mow Medal
ASME
MechE’s Jessica Zhang delivered an invited keynote lecture and received the 2025 ASME Van C. Mow Medal, during the ASME Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM on June 22-25, 2025.
Mireshghallah advises keeping some information safe from chatbots
The Washington Post
EPP/CyLab’s Niloofar Mireshghallah spoke to The Washington Post about best practices for keeping your personal information safe when conversing with AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude. Mireshghallah advises users to bear in mind that their conversations can be saved and reviewed by the company that produced a chatbot, so they should avoid sharing any sensitive information.
Michalek quoted on hybrid cars outselling electric vehicles
E&E News
EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek was quoted in E&E News and EnergyWire about the upward trend in hybrid vehicle sales and the fall in electric vehicle sales. Consumers are drawn to hybrids since they don’t have to worry about relying solely on an electric battery, and hybrids still have better fuel economy than internal-combustion cars. “It is a way to get meaningful environmental impact without much compromise,” says Michalek.
José Moura reflects on the founding of CMU Portugal
CMU Portugal
ECE’s José Moura was featured in a CMU Portugal story on his influence on launching the program. To help Portuguese institutions retain their student population, Moura brought a half dozen CMU professors to Portugal in 2006. These exploratory visits laid the foundation for the CMU Portugal Program, where students from a Portuguese university could receive a dual degree from both CMU and their home institution. Now, nearly two decades later, the program remains committed to its mission of making Portugal an innovative, international leader in information and communication technologies. “The pace of change is so fast, universities cannot do it alone,” Moura said. “Collaboration is not just useful—it’s essential!”