Jeanne VanBriesen to lead the NSF Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems

The U.S. National Science Foundation has selected Jeanne M. VanBriesen of Carnegie Mellon University to serve as division director for Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET). VanBriesen, who begins her NSF term on August 16, is currently Duquesne Light Company Professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering and the department of engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon.

"I am excited to welcome Dr. VanBriesen, whose expertise in interdisciplinary engineering research will help NSF advance scientific frontiers and address clean energy, climate change and other national challenges," said Linda Blevins, acting NSF assistant director for Engineering. "With Dr. VanBriesen's leadership, NSF will continue to build valuable research partnerships and support the development of engineers as both teachers and scholars."

VanBriesen recently served as Carnegie Mellon's vice provost for faculty, and she previously served as chair of the faculty senate. She joined the Carnegie Mellon faculty in 1999 as an assistant professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering and was awarded the Duquesne Light Company chair in 2014. Before joining academia, VanBriesen was a high school science teacher.

VanBriesen's main research interests are in sustainable natural and engineered water systems. She has conducted research on biodegradation and thermodynamics of microbial systems. Most recently, her work has included studying the effects of energy extraction and utilization on drinking water quality. She has published more than 70 journal articles, given more than 150 research and educational presentations and supervised more than 20 doctoral students.

VanBriesen is a fellow of both the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Association for Environmental Engineering and Science Professors. She was recently named a diplomate of water resources by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers. She has been recognized for mentoring, teaching and research with awards such as the Carnegie Mellon Barbara Lazarus Award and the ASCE Margaret S. Peterson Award. She received her bachelor's degree in education and her master's and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from Northwestern University.

CBET supports discoveries in chemical and biochemical systems; environmental engineering and sustainability; bioengineering and engineering healthcare; and fundamental transport, thermal and fluid phenomena.