Georgia Van de Zande
Research Affiliate
Assistant Professor, Olin College of Engineering
Olin College of Engineering Georgia Van de Zande
Research Interests
Dr. Georgia Van de Zande is a Visting Assistant Professor at Olin College of Engineering where she teaches mechanical engineering and design. She's passionate about climate-centered and human-centered engineering design processes, creating innovative learning experiences, and exercising her design skills to have an impact on global challenges. For example, for my Ph.D. with the GEAR Lab, she designed a solar-powered, water-saving irrigation tool for farmers in Kenya, Jordan, and Morocco. Georgia is excited about the product design process, sustainable design, design team collaboration, and engineering and design education.
Education
PhD Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2023
S.M Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015
Honors and Awards
Recipient of the Goodwin Medal for conspicuously effective teaching of an MIT graduate student, 2021
Honorable Mention for the J-WAFS Fellowship for Water Solutions, 2020
Member of first place team in USAID and the Bureau of Reclamation’s Desal Prize, 2015
BP Women in Research Innovation Award, 2014
NEWMAC Academic All-Conference on MIT’s Varsity Swimming & Diving team, 2012-2015
Hobbies
Making plush toys, ceramics, swimming, traveling, training for GEAR Lab Olympics