A new collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and Covestro LLC takes aim at decreasing global waste and its impact on the environment and climate.

Through the first graduate research, education, and innovation program on circular economy design in the United States, we will train graduate students to strategically develop circular economy solutions for our spiraling global waste problem. Our program, developed in collaboration with Covestro, an international pioneer in material innovation, will meld cutting edge research with the fundamentals of circular design and a carefully conceived training program to prepare students for careers that solve pressing societal concerns.

This program will be realized across three core pillars including academics, research and innovation. Participating students will earn a PhD in a home academic department while also gaining additional critical knowledge on the broad topic of circular economy. Throughout their selected PhD degree, students will focus their elective coursework in circular economy.