09/18/2026
From the first EEE PhD graduate to a leader in sustainable materials research.
Ehsan Vahidi helped make history as the first PhD graduate of Purdue's Environmental and Ecological Engineering program. Today, he is an internationally recognized researcher and department chair whose work focuses on critical minerals, battery materials and sustainable supply chains.
As SEE marks its 20th anniversary, Vahidi reflects on how Purdue's interdisciplinary approach, faculty mentorship and emphasis on systems thinking prepared him to tackle some of the world's most pressing sustainability challenges.
Read the full story: https://engineering.purdue.edu/SEE/AboutUs/News/2026/first-to-lead-ehsan-vahidi-reflects-on-being-see8217s-first-phd-graduate