B. Reeja Jayan

B. Reeja Jayan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering, with courtesy appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Chemical Engineering. She serves as director of the Center for Faculty Success and is a Dean's Early Career Fellow and Faculty Fellow at the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin (2012), an MS in Electrical Engineering from the same institution (2008), and a B.Tech in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Kerala (2002).

Dr. Jayan's research focuses on electromagnetic field applications for materials synthesis, particularly in battery technology and sustainable manufacturing. Her lab explores how electromagnetic fields can control materials synthesis and energy storage behavior, with key themes including electromagnetic synthesis of ceramics, lithium-ion battery interface engineering, AI-guided materials discovery, and circular manufacturing. Her work bridges fundamental science with practical applications, as evidenced by her founding of SeaLion Energy Inc., a CMU spinout advancing polymer coatings that extend battery life.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to materials science, with recent work focusing on energy-efficient synthesis methods, battery interface engineering, and AI applications in materials discovery. Her research shows a clear trajectory toward sustainable energy solutions and advanced manufacturing techniques that reduce energy consumption.

• NSF CAREER Award
• Army Research Office (ARO) Young Investigator Award
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Award
• DOE Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Award Finalist (2024)
• Teaching Innovation Award, CMU College of Engineering (2024)
• Elected Board Member, International Microwave Power Institute (2023)

Dr. Jayan has mentored over 50 researchers and taught more than 1,000 students. She leads a research portfolio exceeding $22 million and serves as associate editor of Science Advances. Her Far-from-Equilibrium Materials Laboratory (J-Lab) combines experimental approaches with computational modeling to explore field-matter interactions. Current initiatives include developing robotic platforms for precise materials engineering and creating sustainable manufacturing processes that avoid high-temperature, polluting steps.