"ERVA is a unique opportunity to have the engineering community join together to identify, develop, and catalyze research directions that benefit society. With the numerous challenges facing society and new investments in research pending, the time is now for this critical work."
Dr. Lighty came to Boise State University in July 2017 from the University of Utah and the National Science Foundation, where she was a division director since October 2013. She currently serves as Dean of the College of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at Boise State University.
A professor at the University of Utah for 29 years, Dr. Lighty was chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering, founding director of the Institute for Combustion and Energy Studies, and associate dean for academics in the College of Engineering. She received the SWE Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, the Utah Engineering Educator of the Year from the Utah Engineering Council, and the University’s Linda Amos Award for Distinguished Service to Women.
Dr. Lighty’s research focuses on combustion-generated fine particulate matter formation, soot oxidation, and, her current work, carbon capture technologies. She is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In November of 2017, she received the Lawrence K. Cecil Award from the Environmental Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers for her research in air quality. She has served on several national boards and committees focusing on the environmental aspects of combustion
As the director of the NSF’s Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems, she led 16 programs with a budget of $184 Million. She was a key architect of the cross-NSF initiative, Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems, focusing on convergent research for this system of systems.