Sara Behdad, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences within the School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment (ESSIE) and Director of the Green Engineering Technologies for the Community of Tomorrow (GETCOT) Research Lab. Her research covers engineering design, product lifecycle engineering, intelligent manufacturing and remanufacturing, robotic disassembly, and sustainable product recovery. Her work brings together design, manufacturing, and lifecycle perspectives to address emerging challenges in complex engineered systems.

Dr. Behdad has established a multidisciplinary research program supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other organizations, with more than $8.4 million in sponsored research. She has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed journal and refereed conference publications, with contributions to engineering design, manufacturing, sustainability, robotics, and product lifecycle systems. Her research has also received national media attention through outlets including The Verge, Wired, PBS NewsHour, and Popular Mechanics.

Her contributions to research and education have been recognized through several honors, including the 2025-2026 Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award from the College of Engineering, the International Life Cycle Academy Award, and multiple Best Paper Awards from professional engineering societies. She is also active in professional leadership and scholarly service, including editorial service for two ASME journals, conference organization, and leadership within the engineering design and manufacturing research communities.

Dr. Behdad received her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic University.