Kate Whitefoot

Kate Whitefoot is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research interests include sustainable transportation, energy, and manufacturing. She is the founding co-director of the Transportation Engineering, Economics, and Policy Ph.D. Fellowship Program and associate director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Critical Technology Initiative. Whitefoot also holds a courtesy appointment in the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. She has served on several national and international policy advisory committees and has contributed to research programs focused on energy use in transportation and critical materials analysis. Her work has been featured in various media outlets and referenced in rulemakings by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency.

Kate S. Whitefoot is a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University focusing on the environmental and economic impacts of emerging technologies in transportation and manufacturing. Her work examines the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of fuel cell electric vehicles, additive manufacturing, and electrified powertrains. She evaluates the trade-offs between vehicle design, fuel economy regulations, and greenhouse gas emissions. Whitefoot also investigates the labor implications of transitioning to battery electric vehicles and the role of market-driven design in sustainable development. Her research integrates expert elicitation, life cycle assessment, and optimization techniques to inform policy and industry practices.