CMU Mellon College of Science

A new federally funded national institute at Carnegie Mellon University will help mathematicians use artificial intelligence to make mathematical reasoning faster and more reliable in solving pressing challenges across science, security and the economy.

Why This Pennsylvania City Put Its Streetlights on a Dimmer

Pittsburgh residents will soon get a better view of the night sky. The city is installing energy-efficient, dimmable streetlights thanks to work from advocates like Special Lecturer Diane Turnshek.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/c...

An image of triangles and Pythagoras that says “7/24/25 is a Pythagorean Theorem Day.”

Happy Pythagorean Theorem Day! 7² + 24² = 25²

Team Provides a Roadmap for Large Language Models in Chemical Research - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University In Nature Computational Science, Gomes and his coauthors offer a roadmap toward more strategic implementations of LLMs.

Gabe Gomes is rethinking how AI supports chemistry, taking the technology from providing passive answers to being an active lab partner that can help plan, test and accelerate discovery.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Innovator Uses CMU Education To Combat Rare Diseases - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University alumnus Jeff Milton co-founded La Jolla Labs, which investigates potential treatments for rare and complex diseases using artificial intelligence and RNA biology.

CMU alum Jeff Milton is using RNA science and AI to develop rare disease therapies, and he's giving back to the university that helped launch his journey.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Chemical Pollution's Blind Spot: How CMU Researchers Are Filling the Gaps - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon experts are working to identify how troubling chemicals can transform into even more problematic compounds.

Carnegie Mellon researchers are building tools to predict how chemicals behave in the environment by designing safer, more sustainable materials.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Gittis Awarded Dr. Frederick A. Schwertz Distinguished Professorship of Life Sciences - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Aryn Gittis has been named the Dr. Frederick A. Schwertz Distinguished Professorship of Life Sciences, effective July 1, 2025.

Aryn Gittis has been named the Schwertz Distinguished Professor of Life Sciences for her groundbreaking work on Parkinson’s disease and neural circuit repair.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Yisong Guo (center) and six members of his lab stand outside of Mellon Institute.

Yisong Guo won the RSC Horizon Prize for designing iron-based catalysts that rival nature’s enzymes — advancing sustainable chemistry and industrial innovation.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

MCS Alumni Named Fulbright Scholars - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Recent Carnegie Mellon University graduates Anna Cappella and Alice Crafford earned scholarships from the U.S. Fulbright Student Program.

CMU alumni Anna Cappella and Alice Crafford are Fulbright scholars, heading to Italy and France to advance research in cancer therapies and gravitational physics.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Studying Underwater Acoustics - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University For CMU alumna Taylor Hersh, it would be a sperm whale. As a bioacoustician, she has spent her career trying to understand what whales say to each other.

CMU alumna Taylor Hersh studies how whales communicate. Her work in bioacoustics reveals the rich social lives of marine mammals — and why their voices are worth listening to.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Shinn-Cunningham Awarded Brown Medal - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Brown University's School of Engineering recognized Barbara Shinn-Cunningham as its 2025 Brown Engineering Alumni Medal winner.

Dean @barbsc.bsky.social‬ earned the 2025 @brownengineering.bsky.social Alumni Medal for her leadership in science, research and mentorship across neuroscience and engineering.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

McWilliams Center for Cosmology & Astrophysics Director Tiziana Di Matteo’s reaction to #RubinFirstLook 🔭

@vrubinobs.bsky.social | @cmuscience.bsky.social

Rubin’s First Snapshots Launch a Decade of Discovery - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Scientists and engineers at CMU's McWilliams Center for Cosmology and Astrophysics are building tools to aid astronomers around the world.

Scientists and engineers at CMU's McWilliams Center for Cosmology and Astrophysics are building tools to help astronomers around the world turn Rubin's images into discoveries.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Jasper Jeffrey discusses his research during the Pittsburgh Biomolecular Condensates Conference on May 22, 2025.

At CMU’s Steel City Condensates Conference, researchers explored condensate biology — an emerging field that could revolutionize cancer treatment and precision medicine.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Enhancing Molecular Machine Learning with Quantum-Chemical Insight - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University In Nature Machine Intelligence, Gabe Gomes, Daniil Boiko and collaborators propose a new type of molecular ML representation.

Carnegie Mellon researchers are making it easier and faster to understand how molecules behave — something that’s key to discovering new medicines and materials.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Researchers Target Tire Dust Threatening Salmon - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Recent Carnegie Mellon University graduate Camden Johnson earned the Mellon College of Science Gilman Award for his work investigating a way to safely remove toxic chemicals released from car tires.

Tire chemicals threaten Puget Sound salmon. Carnegie Mellon chemists seek safe ways to remove them.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Image of ~70 C-CAS members with the caption "2025 Annual Meeting, Carnegie Mellon University"

Group of six C-CAS members seated together in discussion

Image of students and postdocs presenting posters in a large group poster session

Group of six C-CAS members together in discussion

Great to see so many new faces at the 2025 C-CAS in person meeting!

Special thanks to @cmuscience.bsky.social for hosting us!

#ccas #nsf #cmu #chemistry #collaboration

Setting the SCENE for Neuroscience Breakthroughs - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Researchers at CMU and Pitt are working to understand how the brain turns perception into action to create new insights into how people move.

Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh neuroscientists are teaming up to investigate how brains understand and respond to their environments.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Research Offers New Hope for Overdose Patients - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Recent Carnegie Mellon University graduate Stella Trickett earned the university's Resnik Award for her work creating a biocompatible polymer that has the potential to treat non-opioid drug overdoses.

Activated charcoal has been the standard for non-opioid overdoses for over 200 years. Carnegie Mellon chemists are working to bring overdose treatment into the 21st century.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Nimer Murshid stands at the front of a classroom and talks to other professors.

Simon Faulkner looks at a screen in a classroom as he explains a concept to a room full of professors.

Tiziana di Matteo stands at the front of a classroom and speaks to a group of professors. In the background, a screen shows a colorful image meant to demonstrate dark matter density.

Professors Nimer Murshid, Simon Faulkner and Tiziana di Mateo shared how they incorporate AI in the classroom during the MCS Summer Symposium.

The six founders of Biocognon sit outside of Mellon Institute.

Biocognon, a startup founded by Carnegie Mellon scientists, aims to revolutionize medicine through personalized antibody-based treatments.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

From Spacecraft to Racecars: Physicist Pushes Vehicle Limits - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Faster, higher, stronger — together. Those words make up the Olympic motto, but they also describe Jim Hamilton’s career.

Keep an eye on cars No. 10 and 8 at the #Indy500. Former rocket scientist and @cmu.edu physics alumnus Jim Hamilton helps Chip Ganassi Racing push the envelope of innovation.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Class of 2025 Celebrates Commencement Weekend - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Students in the Mellon College of Science celebrated graduation May 9-11, 2025.

Commencement may be over, but we're still celebrating! Check out photos from Commencement Weekend, and learn more about some of our recent graduates!
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Your Brain Is Made For Change. Here's How To Optimize It And Boost Brain Health. Big moves impact you on a molecular level, but you can harness it all for smooth sailing.

Professor Alison Barth spoke with Women's Health about how the brain adapts to changes, both big and small.
www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a6425...

Manfred Paulini Honored As CMU Educational Leader - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University The MCS associate dean for research won this year’s Barbara Lazarus Award for Graduate Student and Junior Faculty Mentoring.

Over his 25 years at Carnegie Mellon University, Professor Manfred Paulini has mentored students and junior faculty alike.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...

Want to Prepare Students for Navigating an AI-Driven World? Start in Math Class Educators can leverage math class to teach students the problem-solving and interpersonal skills they will need.

CMU Professor Po-Shen Loh says math classes are crucial for preparing students with the problem-solving and interpersonal skills needed in an AI-driven world.
www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

A student carries the flag of the Mellon College of Science while leading other students in a procession.

MS-DAS students stand on the steps of the Mellon Institute Library holding their diplomas as their friends and families take photos.

Glen de Vries Dean of the Mellon College of Science Barbara Shinn-Cunningham hugs graduating physics student Yunshu Li.

A student gives a speech during the Mathematical Sciences graduation ceremony.

Commencement Weekend was a grand celebration of our graduates’ achievements. Congratulations to all, and we wish them the best of luck as they embark on their next adventures!

CMU grad excelled on the court and in the research lab Being a student-athlete is a big commitment. But juggling that life with Carnegie Mellon University’s rigorous academic programs and research opportunities...

On the court or in the lab, recent MCS graduate Isha Nambisan never dropped the ball. Read about her CMU experience in Sunday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
www.post-gazette.com/news/educati...

Before Commencement, remember to hang up your gown, grab some water, get some sunscreen, charge your phone, double-check guest plans then take a deep breath. Happy graduation!

Byron Daniel Honored with Graduate Student Service Award - Mellon College of Science - Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University Department of Physics Ph.D. student Byron Daniel earned the Graduate Student Service Award for his outreach to his fellow students and the wider community.

Graduating Ph.D. student Byron Daniel believes that small, local changes are the best way to start making a difference.
www.cmu.edu/mcs/news-eve...