Wei Chen

Wei Chen is Chair and Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Wilson-Cook Professor in Engineering Design at Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering. Chen is the Director of the Integrated Design Automation Laboratory (IDEAL) and the Founding Director of the Predictive Science and Engineering Design (PSED) Cluster.

Her current research involves the use of statistical inference, machine learning, and uncertainty quantification techniques for adaptive discovery and design of a wide range of emerging materials systems, by integrating knowledge and representation from multiple disciplines and domains such as materials, manufacturing, structural mechanics, data science, and design optimization.

Chen's research methods have been integrated into commercial software and making direct societal impacts through industrial collaborations and applications in developing multifunctional, lightweight, portable, energy efficient, and sustainable materials, products and processes.