ABQ Times

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

Wei's research is centered on electrochemical processes and developing next-generation high-energy batteries. Her lab aims to create new batteries capable of capturing and converting greenhouse gases while generating electricity. These batteries are designed to last longer and store more energy.

In 2023, Wei co-founded Flow Aluminum Inc., a battery manufacturing company that is currently raising funds to produce prototypes using alternative materials like aluminum, which is both cheaper and more abundant than lithium. At UNM, she mentors a diverse group of students and postdocs in her lab, encouraging those interested in battery research to contact her.

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

She expressed enthusiasm for studying how best to address challenges faced by all battery technologies, including state-of-the-art and alternative options.

The New Mexico Women in Tech Awards recognize exceptional women in STEM fields. Last year, Donna Riley, Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing at the School of Engineering, was among the awardees.

Several past recipients are affiliated with the School of Engineering community: Lydia Tapia; Trilce Estrada; Melanie Moses; Christina Salas; former faculty member Stephanie Forrest; as well as alumnae Carol Adkins, Sandra Begay, Samantha Lapin, and Barbara Lopez.