Evan Spotte-Smith

Evan Spotte-Smith is a computational scientist focusing on sustainable materials and energy systems. In Fall 2025, he will join Carnegie Mellon University as an Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering. Previously, he completed his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at UC Berkeley under Kristin Aslaug Persson, specializing in computational simulations, machine learning, and reaction networks. His research addresses climate change through decarbonizing chemical manufacturing, improving battery technologies, and establishing ethical standards for AI in chemistry. He is a CBI Post-Doctoral Fellow, leveraging this role to advance machine learning in catalysis and electrochemistry.

Education: Ph.D., Materials Science & Engineering, UC Berkeley (Advisor: Kristin A. Persson); Postdoctoral Research at CBI, CMU.

Research Interests: Computational chemistry, data-driven materials discovery, sustainability in chemical processes, electrochemical systems, and ethical AI frameworks for chemical sciences. He explores how machine learning can accelerate the design of energy storage materials while addressing environmental impacts.

Recent articles focus on machine learning ethics, electrochemical reaction cascades, battery degradation mechanisms, and sustainable electrolyte design. His work bridges fundamental chemistry with industrial applications, aiming to translate lab discoveries into scalable environmental solutions.

Awards: CBI Post-Doctoral Fellowship, which provides mentorship and resources for early-career researchers in computational and data science.

Grants/Advising: His upcoming faculty position will expand collaborations with CBI and CMU’s energy initiatives. Current focus includes decarbonizing feedstock chemicals and improving plastic recycling via electrochemistry.

Labs/Teams: Active in CMU’s Center for Behavioral and Integrated Data Science (CBI), collaborating with Bosch and other industry partners on applied electrochemical challenges.