Anukriti Shrestha

Anukriti Shrestha serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Lafayette University's College of Engineering. She joined the institution as part of their newest faculty cohort in 2024, bringing expertise in computational methods for chemical engineering applications.

Dr. Shrestha's research focuses on computational catalysis, where she employs density functional theory (DFT) to assess catalytic materials' thermodynamic stability while integrating data science and machine learning approaches to predict material properties. Her work specifically examines oxygen vacancies' energetics in metal oxide surfaces, beginning with titania and extending to other materials, investigating how these vacancies impact catalyst stability, reactivity, phase stability, and electronic structure. She addresses the computational expense of quantum calculations by developing data-driven methodologies that make materials exploration more efficient and accessible.

In the classroom, Dr. Shrestha teaches CM 261: Introduction to Numerical Computing for Engineers and CHE 312: Experimental Design I. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes inclusive course design, understanding individual student needs, and a progress-oriented approach that connects theoretical concepts with practical applications. She strives to foster a curious mindset in students while supporting their holistic development beyond academics.

Outside her professional responsibilities, Dr. Shrestha enjoys reading, art projects like paint by numbers, walking, caring for her plant collection, solving puzzles, and playing board games.