KINGSTON, R.I. – June 11, 2019 — The Providence Business News has named University of Rhode Island Assistant Professor Gretchen Macht to its 2019 40 Under Forty list.

The list recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who have excelled in their chosen profession and are involved in their communities.

“I am truly honored to receive this recognition,” said Macht, who has taught systems engineering at URI since 2015. “I attribute my success to the research I’ve conducted in the Sustainable Innovative Solutions (SIS) Laboratory and the support I’ve received from my family and the URI community.”

In the SIS Lab, Macht and her students use technology to research sustainable systems that are based on human factors, such as how people think and behave.

One project Macht worked on in the last year was RI VOTES (Voter OperaTions & Election Systems). With the goal of streamlining the voting process in Rhode Island, Macht and her team used technology to examine the source of delays at voting precincts.

“Gretchen is applying engineering to some of the greatest challenges to sustainability of our time,” said URI College of Engineering Dean Raymond Wright. “Her work is interdisciplinary and novel. It’s wonderful to see this recognition.”

Macht and the other 40 Under Forty honorees will be recognized at an event at Aldrich Mansion in Warwick on July 18.

Two years ago, Kunal Mankodiya, an assistant professor in URI’s Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, received the PBN honor.