Lydia M. Contreras, PhD, is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin since January 2011. In addition to academic responsibilities, Contreras co-founded Grio Baby in 2019, serving as Chief Scientific Officer until November 2024, and was a board member for Hand to Hold from January 2019 to January 2024. Prior experience includes a role as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Wadsworth-New York State Dept of Health from September 2008 to December 2010. Educational qualifications include a Bachelor in Science and Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, awarded in 2003, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University, completed in 2008.