معرفی
Dr. Bezawit Getachew is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, where she is also a Research Faculty member of the NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT). She joined Rice in 2020 after completing a postdoctoral appointment in MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, focusing on electrically conductive water filtration membranes. Her academic training includes a Ph.D. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering (Yale University, 2018 and 2015) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (Yale, 2012).
Her research group develops smart materials for sustainable water treatment, including self-healing polymers, electroactive membranes, and responsive materials that adapt to environmental stimuli. Key areas include evaluating smart material performance in water treatment contexts, integrating them into filtration systems, and designing novel materials for enhanced functionality.
Recent work emphasizes understanding self-healing mechanisms in polymers exposed to complex water matrices, optimizing electrochemical fouling control via patterned electroactive membranes, and advancing nanotechnology-enabled solutions for resilient water infrastructure. Her lab's methodologies combine material synthesis, characterization, and bench-scale testing to bridge fundamental science and applied engineering challenges.
Current openings include a Fall 2024 graduate student position and opportunities for Rice undergraduates. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided materials.
Dr. Getachew collaborates with the NEWT Center and maintains an active research lab with projects ranging from microvascular network-embedded membranes to laser-induced graphene applications. Her work addresses critical gaps in smart material deployment for environmental systems by prioritizing real-world water treatment conditions.
