Dr. Melissa Bilec is an associate professor in the Swanson School of Engineering’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; she is the Deputy Director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation.  She is also the Roberta A. Luxbacher Faculty Fellow, and she serves as the Pitt STRIVE Director of Faculty Community Building and Engagement for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

Dr. Bilec’s research is motivated by her strong commitment to develop positive, quantitative, and sustainable solutions for the built environment.  Most recently, she is working to solve the global waste challenge through the advancement and development of design for circular economy using convergence research. 

Melissa dreams about living in Italy, picking olives, and enjoying excellent wine and coffee with friends and family.  She has two lively and independent kids (Bella and Luka), a wonderful partner (Doug), and a beloved dog (Hope).  Melissa is an avid reader, loves to hike in Frick Park, and longs to travel again.  Melissa is super proud of her work on the Hot Metal Bridge, which was an old bridge that was used to transport molten metal across the river to a pedestrian/bike bridge.