Unearthing Climate Solutions
From new farming practices to paleontology, meet four Georgia Tech researchers who improve the climate and predict its future.
Tim Lieuwen Named Georgia Tech’s Executive Vice President for Research
Feb 20, 2025 — Atlanta
Tim Lieuwen, Executive Vice President for Research
Following a nationwide search, Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera has named Timothy Lieuwen the Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR). Lieuwen has served as interim EVPR since September 10, 2024.
“Tim’s ability to bridge academia, industry, and government has been instrumental in driving innovation and positioning Georgia Tech as a critical partner in tackling complex global challenges,” said Cabrera. “With his leadership, I am confident Georgia Tech will continue to expand its impact, strengthen its strategic collaborations, and further solidify its reputation as a world leader in research and innovation.”
A proud Georgia Tech alumnus (M.S. ME 1997, Ph.D. ME 1999), Lieuwen has spent more than 25 years at the Institute. He is a Regents’ Professor and holds the David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering. Prior to the interim EVPR role, Lieuwen served as executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute for 12 years. His expertise spans energy, propulsion, energy policy, and national security, and he has worked closely with industry and government to develop new knowledge and see its implementation in the field.
Lieuwen has been widely recognized for his contributions to research and innovation. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, as well as a fellow of multiple other professional organizations. Recently, he was elected an International Fellow of the U.K.’s Royal Academy of Engineering, one of only three U.S. engineers in 2024 to receive this prestigious commendation. The honor acknowledges Lieuwen’s contributions to engineering and his efforts to advance research, education initiatives, and industry collaborations.
He has authored or edited four books, published over 400 scientific articles, and holds nine patents — several of which are licensed to industry. He also founded TurbineLogic, an analytics firm working in the energy industry. Additionally, Lieuwen serves on governing and advisory boards for three Department of Energy national labs and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to the National Petroleum Council.
The EVPR is the Institute’s chief research officer and directs Georgia Tech’s $1.37 billion portfolio of research, development, and sponsored activities. This includes leadership of the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the Enterprise Innovation Institute, nine Interdisciplinary Research Institutes and numerous associated research centers, and related research administrative support units: commercialization, corporate engagement, research development and operations, and research administration.
“I am honored to step into this role at a time when research and innovation have never been more critical,” Lieuwen said. “Georgia Tech’s research enterprise is built on collaboration — across disciplines, across industries, and across communities. Our strength lies not just in the breakthroughs we achieve, but in how we translate them into real-world impact.
“My priority is to put people first — empowering our researchers, students, and partners to push boundaries, scale our efforts, and deepen our engagement across Georgia and beyond. Together, we will expand our reach, accelerate discovery, and ensure that Georgia Tech remains a driving force for progress and service.”
News Contact
Shelley Wunder-Smith | Director of Research Communications
shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu
Mini-Symposium: Biomass integration with Traditional Refineries (BiTR)
There is increasing interest in combining our existing hydrocarbon infrastructure with renewable sources of carbon such as seed oils, waste fats and oils, tri-acyl glycerides (TAGs) derived from sources such as algae, and pyrolysis oils from woody biomass. This has been driven by standards such as the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and the desire by industry segments, such as aviation, for fuels with low net carbon emissions.
Celebrate STEAM | Atlanta Science Festival Launch at Georgia Tech
Members of the Georgia Tech community are excited to welcome the community back to campus for the kickoff event of the 12th annual Atlanta Science Festival. Formerly known as Georgia Tech Science and Engineering Day, Celebrate STEAM will feature hands on activities for participants of all ages. Whether your interests lie in robotics, brains, biology, space, art, nanotechnology, paper, computer science, wearables, bioengineering, chemical engineering, or systems engineering, we have something for everyone.
Building Toward Community-Owned Resilience Hubs
Jan 23, 2025 — Atlanta
Participants outside of the Frissell Community House at the Penn Center on November 21, 2024. Photo credit - Jennifer Hirsch.
Resilience hubs are trusted, community-serving facilities designed to support residents and coordinate communication and resources in everyday life; and before, during, and after disruptions. Environmental disruptions such as hurricane damage, coastal erosion, flood damage, extreme heat, and wildfire destruction are occurring more frequently and with greater economic costs.
On November 21, 2024, a team from Georgia Tech met with nine other organizations at the Penn Center on St. Helena Island in South Carolina to work towards developing targeted resilience strategies to cope with environmental disaster events. More specifically, the Penn Center workshop’s overall goal was the co-creation of paths toward building community-led and -engaged, scientifically supported resilience hubs, addressing the unique challenges faced by coastal and inland vulnerable communities in the Southeastern United States.
A common definition of community resilience is “the sustained ability of a community to use available resources to respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations.”
Part of the process to build these action research partnerships and resilience plans is to bring together community leaders, government representatives, and an interdisciplinary team of researchers—many of whom are from Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech researchers bring expertise from science, engineering, design, humanities, and social sciences.
As part of the workshop, 15 Georgia Tech architecture students presented their design models for a multipurpose 20,000 square-foot building designed for the Penn Center campus which is steeped in African American history.
Some of the researchers at Georgia Tech attending the workshop and supporting the development of Southeastern community-focused resilience strategies included:
- Sofía Pérez-Guzmán, assistant professor in the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering;
- Allen Hyde, associate professor in the School of History and Sociology, and faculty member of the Institute for People and Technology;
- Danielle Willkens, associate professor in the School of Architecture and faculty member of the Institute for People and Technology;
- Alexander Robel, associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences;
- Jennifer Hirsch, director of the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education at Georgia Tech;
- Valerie M. Thomas, Anderson-Interface Chair of Natural Systems and professor in the H. Milton School of Industrial and Systems Engineering with a joint appointment in the School of Public Policy;
- Joe F. Bozeman III, assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering with a joint appointment in the School of Public Policy;
- Russell Clark, lead principal investigator of the Coastal Equity and Resilience Hub and senior research scientist at the Institute for People and Technology;
- Nicole Kennard, assistant director for community-engaged research in the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems; and
- Jung-Ho Lewe, senior research engineer in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.
Participating partner organizations in addition to the Penn Center include:
- 7 Dimensions Outreach
- Atlanta Preservation Center
- Center for Sustainable Communities
- Coastal Conservation League
- Community Church Atlanta
- Furman University
- Gullah Geechee Futures Project
- University of South Carolina: Arnold School of Public Health, the EJ Strong Program, and the Department of Environmental Health Science
- Willson Center for Humanities and Arts at the University of Georgia
This work is supported by a Georgia Tech Sustainability Next research seed grant. The seed grant program is administered by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBIS) in collaboration with the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), and the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT). The program nurtures promising areas for future large-scale collaborative sustainability research, research translation, and high-impact outreach; provides mid-career faculty with leadership and community-building opportunities; and broadens and strengthens the Georgia Tech sustainability community as a whole.
News Contact
Walter Rich
The Year in Photos
From the physics of knitting to highlighting how batteries work, Georgia Tech photographers captured the impact and breadth of the Institute’s research enterprise.
Georgia Tech 2025 Sustainability Showcase - Day 2
The theme for this year’s showcase is ecosystem, community, and infrastructure resilience, as well as resilience in the curriculum. This is an exciting opportunity to learn about this critical work happening all across campus, and the SE region. Visit the Showcase web page to learn about the schedule of events as it develops.
Georgia Tech 2025 Sustainability Showcase - Day 1
Sponsored by Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, this event will be an opportunity for Georgia Tech academics, researchers, students, and Institute programs to share their work in sustainability.
Georgia Tech’s Executive Vice President for Research Search: Finalist 1 Seminar
Each candidate’s bio and curriculum vitae, along with further details, will be accessible through the EVPR search site two business days ahead of each visit. Georgia Tech credentials are required to access all materials. Information is being made available in this manner to protect the confidentiality of the finalists.
Finalists Chosen in Georgia Tech’s Executive Vice President for Research Search
Jan 07, 2025 —
Georgia Tech’s Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR) search committee has selected three finalists. Each candidate will visit campus and present a seminar sharing their broad vision for the Institute's research enterprise.
The seminars are open to all faculty, students, and staff across the campus community. Interested individuals can attend in person or register to participate via Zoom (pre-registration is required).
All seminars will take place at 11 a.m. on the following dates:
- Candidate 1: Monday, January 13, Scholars Event Theater, Price Gilbert 1280 (register for webinar)
- Candidate 2: RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, January 29, Scholars Event Theater, Price Gilbert 1280 (register for webinar)
- Candidate 3: Monday, January 27, Scholars Event Theater, Price Gilbert 1280 (register for webinar)
Each candidate’s bio and curriculum vitae, along with further details, will be accessible through the EVPR search site 48 hours prior to each visit. Georgia Tech credentials are required to access all materials. Information is being made available in this manner to protect the confidentiality of the finalists. Following each candidate’s visit, the campus community is invited to share their comments via a survey that will be posted on the candidate’s webpage.
The search committee is chaired by Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences. Search committee members include a mix of faculty and staff representing colleges and units across campus. Georgia Tech has retained the services of the executive search firm WittKieffer for the search.
News Contact
Shelley Wunder-Smith | shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu
Director of Research Communications