Alice Gast

Alice Gast is a renowned American chemical engineer and academic administrator, known for her work in Carnegie Mellon University, University of Chicago, and California Institute of Technology. She has made significant contributions to the field of chemical engineering, particularly in the areas of colloidal systems, surface science, and nanotechnology, collaborating with prominent researchers from Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Gast's academic background and research experience have been shaped by her interactions with esteemed institutions such as National Science Foundation, American Chemical Society, and National Academy of Engineering. Her work has been influenced by notable figures in the field, including Stephen Quake, George Whitesides, and David Weitz.

● Early Life and Education

Alice Gast was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in Texas, where she developed an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, inspired by the work of NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. She pursued her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at the University of Southern California, where she was exposed to the research of California Institute of Technology and University of California, Los Angeles. Gast then moved to Princeton University to earn her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, working under the guidance of prominent researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and University of Michigan. Her graduate studies were influenced by the work of National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, and National Science Foundation.

● Career

Gast began her academic career as a faculty member at Stanford University, where she taught chemical engineering and conducted research in colloidal systems and surface science, collaborating with colleagues from University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She later moved to Carnegie Mellon University to take on a leadership role, serving as the Dean of the College of Engineering, and working closely with University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State University, and Drexel University. Gast's career has been marked by her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields, inspired by the work of National Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Association for Women in Science. She has also been involved in various initiatives with IBM, Google, and Microsoft to promote STEM education and research.

● Research and Publications

Gast's research has focused on the properties and behavior of colloidal systems, surface science, and nanotechnology, with applications in biotechnology, energy, and environmental science, building on the work of University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Rice University. She has published numerous papers in top-tier journals, including Nature, Science, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and has presented her work at conferences organized by American Chemical Society, American Physical Society, and Materials Research Society. Gast's research has been recognized by awards from National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and she has collaborated with researchers from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and ETH Zurich.

● Awards and Honors

Gast has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to chemical engineering and STEM education, including the National Medal of Science, Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, and American Institute of Chemical Engineers Founders Award, recognizing her work with NASA, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Defense. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has been recognized by University of California, San Diego, University of Washington, and Duke University for her achievements.

● Presidency of Imperial College London

In 2014, Gast was appointed as the President of Imperial College London, a prestigious institution known for its strengths in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including Imperial College Business School, Imperial College Faculty of Engineering, and Imperial College Faculty of Natural Sciences. During her tenure, she has focused on promoting interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, building on the work of University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University College London. Gast has also been involved in various initiatives with European Union, European Research Council, and Wellcome Trust to advance STEM education and research, and has collaborated with researchers from Australian National University, University of Toronto, and National University of Singapore. Her leadership has been recognized by awards from Times Higher Education, QS World University Rankings, and Financial Times, and she has worked closely with British Government, Royal Society, and Academy of Medical Sciences to promote Imperial College London's research and education initiatives.