Civil engineering welcomes new faculty member this semester

January 11, 2024 - by Kim Delker

photo: Allyson McGaughey
Allyson McGaughey

Allyson McGaughey, who is beginning this semester as an assistant professor in the Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, said she is eager to begin her life and career at UNM.

McGaughey’s research interests include advanced separation processes and materials for applications in water treatment, resource recovery and environmental remediation. She joins UNM from a distinguished postdoctoral fellow position at Princeton University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Washington and master’s and doctoral degrees in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Southern California.

She said that UNM was attractive to her for a variety of reasons, both professional and personal.

“Here in the Southwest, we face immediate and long-term water challenges, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to work on issues that are not only relevant globally, but also locally,” she said. “UNM has dedicated researchers working on all aspects of water — from the Center for Water and the Environment to the METALS Center, the ARID Center and the Sustainable Water Resources Grand Challenges — all of whom I am excited to work with.”

McGaughey said there is a lot of opportunity for collaborations with UNM research centers like the Center for Micro-engineered Materials as well as Sandia National Laboratories. And all of this is located in the diverse and beautiful community of Albuquerque.

“I am so glad to have landed here,” she said.

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, diving, and spending time with her husband, cat and dog.

“I'm most excited about starting my research group — working with graduate and undergraduate students that are passionate about water and engineering, setting up our laboratory, and starting new projects and collaborations here at UNM,” she said. “I'm also so excited to start teaching and meeting students this semester. I can't wait to see what the next years have in store.”

Learn more about McGaughey’s research or contact her at her website.