Elsa A. Olivetti
- Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Professor in Materials Science and Engineering
- BS, Engineering Science, University of Virginia, 2000
- PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, MIT, 2007
- 8-403
- elsao@mit.edu
Manufacturing; Materials Processing; Materials Systems and Analysis

Research
Professor Olivetti’s research focuses on improving the environmental and economic sustainability of materials in the context of rapid-expanding global demand. Her research addresses two major problems where solutions could yield significant environmental benefits:
- Improving the sustainability of materials through increased use of recycled and renewable materials, recycling-friendly material design, and intelligent waste disposition
- Understanding the implications of substitution, dematerialization and waste mining on materials markets. Her research spans three levels of materials production: operational-level, industrial network-level and market-level strategies.
Recent News
DMSE promotes Rafael Gómez-Bombarelli and Elsa Olivetti
February 17, 2023
FORGE holds its first out-of-state event
February 14, 2023
Mining’s key role in the energy transition is focus of MIT conference
September 27, 2022
Professor Olivetti to join Climate Nucleus
September 21, 2021