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Wei selected as New Mexico Women in Tech awardee

March 7, 2025 - By Carly Bowling

photo: Shuya Wei

Shuya Wei, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at The University of New Mexico, was named a recipient of the New Mexico Tech Council’s Women in Tech Award. She will be recognized with nine other women at the Women in Tech Awards on March 13.

Wei’s research focuses on understanding the fundamentals of electrochemical processes and the development of next-generation high-energy batteries. Her lab is working to develop new batteries that can capture and convert greenhouse gasses while generating electricity, a new type of battery that will last longer and store more energy.

Wei co-founded Flow Aluminum Inc., a battery manufacturing company, in 2023. The company is raising funds to fabricate prototypes with alternative battery materials, like aluminum, which is cheaper and more abundant than lithium. At UNM, Wei has mentored and worked with a diverse group of students and postdocs in her lab. She encourages any students interested in battery research to reach out to her.

“I enjoy working with students from different backgrounds because they bring brilliant ideas to solving problems in energy system,” Wei said.

All battery technologies, both state-of-the-art and alternatives, have limitations and she is invigorated by studying how best to address the challenges, she said.

The New Mexico Women in Tech Awards honor outstanding women in STEM. Last year, Donna Riley, Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing at the School of Engineering, received the award.

Several previous winners of the Women in Tech Award are members of the School of Engineering community, including Lydia Tapia, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science; Trilce Estrada, associate professor of computer science; Melanie Moses, professor of computer science and special assistant to the dean for educational initiatives; Christina Salas, associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Biomedical Engineering Program; former faculty member Stephanie Forrest; and alumnae Carol Adkins, Sandra Begay, Samantha Lapin and Barbara Lopez.