People

Victoria Webster-Wood received her B.S. in 2012, M.S. in 2013, and Ph.D. in 2017 in mechanical engineering at Case Western Reserve University, receiving graduate support as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and GAANN Fellow in the Biologically Inspired Robotics Lab. She subsequently completed her postdoctoral training as a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow in the Tissue Fabrication and Mechanobiology Lab at the same institution.

Upon joining Carnegie Mellon University, she established the CMU Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group (B.O.R.G). The B.O.R.G.’s research focuses on the use of organic materials as structures, actuators, sensors, and controllers toward the development of biohybrid and organic robots and biohybrid prosthetics.

Biohybrid and Organic Robotics

Tactile Sensors for Manufacturing

Using Organic Materials in Robotic Systems

Education

2017 Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

2013 MS, Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

2012 BS, Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

Media mentions


CMU Engineering

Biological neural circuits critical for neurodegenerative disease therapy and biohybrid robot control

To support the development of new therapies for neurodegenerative disease and advance biohybrid robots, Jessica Zhang and Victoria Webster-Wood will lead a project to develop computational tools to predict neuron growth and transport regulation.

CNN

Webster-Wood quoted on a new mushroom based biohybrid robot

MechE’s Vickie Webster-Wood was quoted by CNN about a new robot developed by researchers at Cornell University that uses a mushroom’s mycelium in its hardware, allowing the robot to respond to the environment.

Mechanical Engineering

Development of ‘living robots’ needs regulation and public debate

Bio-hybrid robotics creates unique ethical challenges, say researchers

CMU Engineering

Sea slugs: what can we learn from them?

Studying Aplysia californica, or sea slugs, can tell us a lot about neuromuscular systems and open up avenues for more controlled animal experiments.

CMU Engineering

Engineering for older adults

As an undergraduate student in the College of Engineering, Justin Lam was able to design his own major track inspired by his passion for helping aging populations, which he called geriatric engineering.

CMU Engineering

Undergraduates present research at Meeting of the Minds 2024

Engineering undergraduate students had a wonderful showing at Meeting of the Minds, displaying posters, giving presentations, and demonstrating projects they have worked on this past academic year.

Nature

Webster-Wood talks with Nature about biohybrid robots

MechE’s Victoria Webster-Wood talks with Nature about biohybrid robots. “A biohybrid is really any robot that combines both biological materials and synthetic materials,” she says.

Mechanical Engineering

Webster-Wood named 35 Innovator Under 35

Vickie Webster-Wood has been named one of the 2023 35 Innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review

CMU Engineering

Branching out: Modeling neurons in new ways

Predicting neuron cell growth just got a little bit easier, thanks to CMU researchers.

CMU Engineering

So tricky, a robot can do it

Carnegie Mellon Researchers have taken inspiration from geckos to create a material that adheres to wet and dry surfaces, even on an incline.

CMU Engineering

2023 Dean’s Early Career Fellows announced

Xi (Charlie) Ren, Victoria Webster-Wood, and Ding Zhao have received the honor for their contributions to their respective fields.

CMU Engineering

Now printing: seaweed-based, biodegradable actuators

We are one step closer to naturally compostable robots now that researchers at Carnegie Mellon can print actuators using a bio-ink made from seaweed.