The MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) has announced a new leadership appointment for its environmental research facility. Effective July 1, 2026, Associate Professor David Des Marais will serve as the next Director of the Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory for Environmental Science and Engineering.

The announcement was made by Department Head and JR East Professor, Ali Jadbabaie, who expressed deep appreciation for the dedicated leadership of the outgoing director, Desirée Plata, the School of Engineering Distinguished Climate and Energy Professor, who will step down from the role to begin her new appointment as Associate Dean of Engineering. “I extend my deepest gratitude for her service and steadfast leadership in continuing to drive the Lab’s research mission forward and sustaining the vibrant, collaborative culture that is central to the identity and success of Parsons,” said Jadbabaie.

As the Director of the Parsons Laboratory, Des Marais, the Amgen Career Development Professor, will oversee and help advance CEE’s educational and research initiatives in environmental and climate science and engineering, including seminars and related programming. He will also serve on the department’s leadership team and work closely with Jadbabaie, Parsons faculty, and departmental administrators on strategic planning and implementation efforts that strengthen and expand CEE’s environmental science and engineering agenda.

Des Marais shared his excitement for the new role, “I look forward to building on the Lab’s legacy of nature-based environmental engineering research, deepening our collaborative culture, and working alongside our students, postdocs, and faculty to tackle some of the most urgent questions facing our planet.”

Jadbabaie highlighted what makes Des Marais well-suited for the position. “Dave is a thoughtful leader with a collaborative spirit and deep commitment to interdisciplinary research and education, qualities that have been evident throughout his research, teaching, and contributions to the CEE community. I am confident that under his leadership, Parsons will continue to thrive as a multidisciplinary hub for innovation, discovery, and environmental impact,” added Jadbabaie.

As CEE continues to advance its mission of developing sustainable solutions for the natural and human-built environments, CEE laboratories remain central to this vision. Parsons is one of two core research facilities; The Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory focuses on natural systems and the engineering of human adaptation to a changing environment, while the Henry L. Pierce Laboratory drives innovation across materials, transportation, network and energy systems for improving societal conditions.