Innovative Engineering Faculty Tenured at MIT: A Focus on Advanced Research

In 2024, a notable milestone was achieved as tenure was granted to 12 distinguished faculty members across the School of Engineering. These accomplished engineers hold key positions in several departments, including Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), Mechanical Engineering, and Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Anantha Chandrakasan, the chief innovation and strategy officer and dean of engineering, expressed heartfelt congratulations to the new tenured faculty. He acknowledged their lasting impact on the School of Engineering through their advancements in their respective fields and their unwavering dedication as educators and mentors.

Distinguished New Faculty Members

Among this year’s newly tenured faculty are:

• Adam Belay — Associate Professor of Computer Science. Belay leads research on operating systems, runtime systems, and distributed systems, focusing on microsecond-scale computing and efficient cloud resource management, which are essential for optimizing large data centers.
• Irmgard Bischofberger — Class of 1942 Career Development Professor and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Bischofberger specializes in pattern formation mechanisms in complex fluids, contributing valuable insights into instabilities relevant to physical systems and industrial processes.
• Matteo Bucci — Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Associate Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Bucci’s group investigates two-phase heat transfer in nuclear reactors, developing innovative diagnostics and machine-learning tools to enhance efficiency in energy systems.
• Luca Carlone — Boeing Career Development Professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Carlone leads research on robotics and autonomous systems, focusing on real-time 3D scene understanding algorithms crucial for mobile robotics applications.
• Manya Ghobadi — Associate Professor of Computer Science. Ghobadi is known for her work on efficient network infrastructures that enhance resource utilization and energy efficiency in large-scale systems.
• Zachary Hartwig — Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor in Nuclear Science and Engineering. Hartwig focuses on advanced superconducting magnet technologies for fusion energy, contributing to the innovative commercialization of fusion energy.
• Admir Masic — Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Masic aims to integrate ancient wisdom with modern material technologies to develop sustainable construction materials.
• Stefanie Mueller — TIBCO Career Development Professor in EECS. Mueller’s work involves creating novel hardware and software systems that enhance object capabilities, with applications ranging from health sensors to reprogrammable interfaces.
• Koroush Shirvan — Atlantic Richfield Career Development Professor in Energy Studies. Shirvan is dedicated to advancing nuclear reactor technologies, focusing on innovations that enhance sustainability in next-generation power plants.
• Julian Shun — Associate Professor of Computer Science. Shun’s research focuses on parallel and high-performance computing, striving to design algorithms that are efficient both theoretically and practically.
• Zachary P. Smith — Robert N. Noyce Career Development Professor and Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering. Smith specializes in molecular-level design of polymers for membrane-based separations, aiming to address environmental challenges such as carbon capture from industrial emissions.
• Giovanni Traverso — Karl Van Tassel (1925) Career Development Professor and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Traverso focuses on the development of innovative drug delivery systems and diagnostic devices that support early disease detection and therapeutic administration.