Callie Babbitt

Dr. Callie Babbitt is a Professor of Sustainability at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she leads research on circular economy solutions for waste streams including electronics, batteries, plastics, and food waste. Her work bridges industrial ecology with practical sustainability applications.

Her educational background:

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
• M.S. in Environmental Engineering, University of Florida
• Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, University of Florida

Dr. Babbitt's research centers on recovering value from waste through life cycle assessment, eco-design, and systems analysis. She specializes in electronic waste recycling, lithium-ion battery second-life applications, food waste management, and the food-energy-water nexus. Her approach integrates spatial modeling, material flow analysis, and risk assessment to develop scalable circular economy strategies for consumer products and urban systems.

Her extensive publication record reveals consistent focus on circular economy implementation, with recent work examining electronic waste supply chains, battery recycling economics, and food waste valorization. She frequently employs life cycle assessment frameworks while incorporating ecological modeling and spatial analysis to address material recovery challenges across multiple sectors.

Dr. Babbitt's contributions have been recognized through:

• Fulbright U.S. Scholar award
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award
• AT&T Technology and Environment Award

Her research group currently offers funded M.S. positions in Sustainable Systems but is not accepting new Ph.D. students. Major funding sources include:

• National Science Foundation (multiple grants totaling over $1.5 million)
• Consumer Technology Association ($118,000)
• Staples Sustainable Innovation Lab ($36,148)

She directs a multidisciplinary research team collaborating with industry partners and government agencies to translate circular economy theory into practical waste management solutions, with particular emphasis on electronic products and urban food systems.