Carl Laird Named Head of Chemical Engineering
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After an extensive internal and external search, Carl Laird(opens in new window) has been selected as the next head of the Department of Chemical Engineering(opens in new window), effective Jan. 1. Laird is a professor of chemical engineering and has been serving in the role of interim department head since January 2024.
Laird brings extensive leadership experience, an open leadership style, and a vision to advance the department in scholarly research, excellence in world-class education, and growth in international impact and recognition.
Laird, who obtained his Ph.D. from the department in 2006, has a strong record of scholarly activity, authoring over 100 journal and conference publications. His portfolio includes high-impact work in the areas of public health, critical infrastructure, energy systems, large-scale optimization and machine learning, some of which has been recognized with national and international awards. These include the Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering 2024 Steven J. Fenves Award for Systems Research, the INFORMS Computing Society Prize in 2019, the Outstanding Young Researcher Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (CAST Division) in 2015, the Wilkinson Prize for Numerical Software in 2010, and the National Science Foundation Early Career Development award.
The College of Engineering appreciates the efforts of the search committee members, led by Greg Rohrer, who served as committee chair. The committee included Joanne Beckwith Maddock, Justin Dawber, Ignacio Grossmann, Tagbo Niepa, Bob Tilton, and Ana Torres, with John Davis III providing administrative support.
