After completing her Ph.D., Newman joined the faculty at MIT, initially as an assistant professor. This marked the beginning of a distinguished academic career where she mentored students and conducted groundbreaking research.

Over two decades, Newman served as a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Engineering Systems at MIT. She established herself as a leading expert in spacesuit design, human adaptation to space, and engineering systems analysis.

Newman held a leadership role as the Director of the MIT Portugal Program, fostering collaborative research and educational initiatives between MIT and Portuguese institutions, advancing knowledge in various fields.

As Director of the Man Vehicle Laboratory at MIT, Newman oversaw research focused on human-machine interaction in aerospace environments. This included work on spacesuits, biomechanics, and human performance modeling.

Newman's research team at MIT spearheaded the development of the BioSuit, a revolutionary spacesuit design that utilizes mechanical counterpressure rather than pressurized gas to provide mobility and protection in space. This innovative design aimed to overcome the limitations of traditional bulky spacesuits.

Newman was promoted to the rank of Full Professor at MIT, a testament to her significant contributions to research, teaching, and service within the university.