Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Director, Center for Faculty Success, College of Engineering
Courtesy Appointments, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering
Reeja Jayan is a professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, where she also serves as director of the Center for Faculty Success. She leads interdisciplinary research exploring how electromagnetic fields can control materials synthesis and energy storage behavior.
Jayan is the founder and chief executive officer of SeaLion Energy Inc., a CMU spinout advancing polymer coatings that extend battery life and enable regeneration of lithium-ion cells. Since its launch in 2023, SeaLion has secured over $2 million in grant funding and is scaling its technology with industrial and government partners.
She has led a research portfolio of over $22 million, collaborated with and mentored more than 50 researchers, and taught over 1,000 students. Her work has earned recognition including the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, Army Research Office (ARO) Young Investigator Award, Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Award, and selection to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences panel advising the Army Research Lab. She was also a 2024 finalist for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) Award, recognizing women leaders in clean energy.
She serves as associate editor of Science Advances, was elected to the Board of the International Microwave Power Institute (IMPI), and has chaired or served on multiple national and international scientific committees.
Key research themes:
Recent highlights
2012 Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
2008 MS, Electrical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
2002 B. Tech., Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, University of Kerala
CMU Engineering
Microwave synthesis produces MXene 25x faster than traditional methods while using 75% less energy, according to new research from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
CMU Engineering
SeaLion Energy, a CMU-led startup, received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E to extend EV battery life and facilitate repair and reuse to reduce waste.
MSN
MechE’s Reeja Jayan spoke with MSN about the potential of solid-state batteries being used in electric vehicles. “Cons currently include higher manufacturing costs associated with the way the solid electrolyte is made and pressurized into the cells,” Jayan explains.
CMU Engineering
Reeja Jayan designed a syllabus that incorporates Minecraft to give students a hands-on approach to learning about materials science concepts like chemical vapor deposition polymerization without setting foot in an actual lab.
CMU Engineering
The relaunched Center for Faculty Success will provide professional development, training, and leadership opportunities that empower faculty to succeed throughout their academic careers.
CMU Engineering
Six members from the College of Engineering were recognized at CMU’s annual Celebration of Education Awards.
Wards Auto
MechE’s Reeja Jayan shares her thoughts on how temperature affects battery-powered vehicles’ ability to change in Wards Auto. The cold can make batteries charge less effectively
AP News
MechE’s Reeja Jayan comments on battery technology in the crashed Venice bus in AP News. “In batteries that use nickel or cobalt, oxygen can be released if the temperature gets too hot, fueling a fire. But in a lithium-iron-phosphate battery, there is a strong bond between oxygen and phosphorus, keeping the oxygen in place,” she says.
CMU Engineering
Researchers at CMU and the University of Texas at Austin have designed a model that accurately predicts a battery’s charge curve, which could impact the safety and reliability of electric vehicles.
CMU Engineering
Carnegie Mellon Researchers have taken inspiration from geckos to create a material that adheres to wet and dry surfaces, even on an incline.
International Microwave Power Institute
MechE’s Reeja Jayan has been elected to the Board of International Microwave Power Institute, the leading scientific organization dedicated to the international microwave energy community.
Utah Public Radio
MechE’s Reeja Jayan talks to Utah Public Radio about her nonlinear path toward becoming a professor in engineering. She is the author of a chapter in the recently published book Women in Mechanical Engineering.