Meet Teaching Assistant Professor Katie O'Harra
Prior to joining CU Boulder, Katie O’Harra was an assistant professor at The University of Alabama, where she developed the Engineering Positive and Intentional Change Scholars Program, an honors-designated minor for engineering and computer science undergraduates. The program focused on the intersection of engineering solutions with environmental responsibility, sustainable energy, resource stewardship, policy, ethical decision-making, empathy and social impact. She also designed several experiential STEAM courses, including TheChemistry of Baking, Visual Arts Media and Materials Science and an immersive Sustainable Industry and Agriculture study abroad program in The Netherlands and Denmark.
O’Harra served as adjunct faculty in the Chemical and Biological Engineering department, teaching courses and co-directing a study abroad program in Ireland. She holds a BS, MS and PhD in chemical engineering and a BA in dance from UA. Her research has resulted in more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, several US patent applications and numerous presentations at national and international conferences. Her work has inspired collaborative projects and proposals, particularly in the design of high-performance ionic materials for membrane-based gas separations and additive manufacturing applications.