Educator Profile: Rachel A. Segalman of the University of California, Santa Barbara

Professor Rachel Segalman’s career is a remarkable blend of scientific achievement, visionary leadership, and a deeply personal legacy of mentorship and inclusion. As the third generation of women in her family to pursue the chemical sciences—and part of a four-generation lineage of chemists and engineers of Chinese descent—Segalman embodies a family tradition that views science as a path to both personal growth and societal contribution. From her early exposure to research at Sandia National Laboratories to her leadership roles at UC Berkeley/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UCSB, she has continuously shaped the field through pioneering work in soft materials and energy systems. Just as significant is the lasting impact she has had on her students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone on to academic careers around the world. At home, she and her husband Tal have raised a family where intellectual curiosity, cultural exploration, and scientific enthusiasm continue to thrive. Her story is one of curiosity, commitment, and care—for science, for people, and for the future of chemical engineering.