Tagbo H.R. Niepa^1,2*

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, ²Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States

Dr. Tagbo H. R. Niepa is the Arthur Hamerschlag Career Development Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Pittsburgh, USA. Originally from Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Niepa began his academic journey there, earning an Associate Degree in Food Science and conducting research at the Pasteur Institute in Abidjan. He later pursued bioengineering studies at the University of Dortmund, Germany, before transferring to Syracuse University (USA), where he earned his B.Sc. in Bioengineering (2009) and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with honors (2014). During his doctoral studies, he co-founded Helios Innovative Technologies Inc. (now Leviant, Inc.), a medical device company specializing in automated sterilization systems to combat bacterial contamination. He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship for Academic Diversity at the University of Pennsylvania, working on microbiome dynamics in artificial microniches and thin films. Dr. Niepa’s research focuses on using multidisciplinary approaches to address challenges involving microorganisms in healthcare, the environment, and the food industry. His work has earned prestigious awards, including the 2022 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, the 2022 NSF CAREER Award, and the 2019 NSF S-STEM Award, which promotes diversity and excellence in engineering research and education. Dr. Niepa is a champion of global STEM outreach, particularly in Africa. In Morocco, he participated in the U.S.-Africa Frontiers of Science, Engineering, and Medicine symposium to foster cross-border innovation. He has developed exchange programs in Côte d’Ivoire, led collaborations in Tunisia (Higher Institute for Biotechnology) and Senegal (University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), the Dakar American University of Science and Technology (DAUST), and IRESSEF) to advance health-focused research and capacity building. With CMU Africa in Rwanda, he supports initiatives enhancing education and research opportunities. His partnerships with the University of Ghana and the University of Botswana further his mission to empower STEM innovation across the continent.