Alexandra Newby joins ChemE faculty

Alexandra Newby will join the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University as an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, beginning in August 2024.

Newby is a three-time graduate of Carnegie Mellon. She received her Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 2024, her master's degree in civil and environmental engineering in 2019, and her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and engineering and public policy in 2016.

Her research experience spans computational and experimental work, covering environmental and biomedical fields. For her dissertation, Newby explored the use of human breast milk for drug delivery applications. "Oftentimes, nature can show us solutions to our problems," she says. Newby evaluated specific components of human breast milk to enhance the efficacy of lipid nanoparticles, such as those used for COVID-19 vaccines. She was specifically interested in improving lipid nanoparticles to be less painful delivery vehicles and more effective at targeting different organs in the body.

Newby is passionate about ensuring her research addresses significant societal challenges. Her earlier research focused on water sustainability.

As a teaching professor, Newby aims to instill pride in chemical engineering students. "I want them to be enthusiastic about entering industry or academia, where they will wow everyone with their knowledge and skills learned here," she says.

With her background in the College of Engineering, Newby offers a unique perspective, viewing her faculty role through a student lens. She aims to help students appreciate the value of Carnegie Mellon's interdisciplinary approach. "It's important to have a broad view of what engineering can achieve and how engineers interact with various stakeholders," she says.

Newby adds that she felt very supported throughout her engineering studies. She intends to use her varied experience to mentor her students as they explore different fields of interest.

For media inquiries, please contact Lauren Smith at lsmith2@andrew.cmu.edu.