Victoria Webster-Wood
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Courtesy Appointment, Biomedical Engineering
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.
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
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.
CMU Engineering
Multi-university team building actuators for next gen bio-bots
Multi-university team, led by Mechanical Engineering’s Vickie Webster-Wood, is building actuators for next generation sustainable bio-bots.
CMU Engineering
Hydrogels pave way for future of soft robotics
Wenhuan Sun, Victoria Webster-Wood, and Adam Feinberg have created an open-source, commercially available fiber extruder to benefit future research with hydrogels and soft robotics.
ICRA 2022
CMU team wins big at robotics conference
MechE’s Victoria Webster-Wood and her team took home a prize for their paper at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.
IEEE Spectrum
Bergbreiter, Majidi, and Webster-Wood featured in IEEE Spectrum
MechE’s Carmel Majidi, Sarah Bergbreiter, and Victoria Webster-Wood were featured on IEEE Spectrum, discussing softbotics.
CMU Engineering
Tuning synthetic collagen threads for biohybrid robots
Researchers in Victoria Webster-Wood’s Biohybrid and Organic Robotics Group are using techniques from tissue engineering to refine tendon-like collagen threads for a new generation of robots.
Mechanical Engineering
Biomechanics for teens
National Biomechanics Day is a worldwide celebration that strives to bring the complex world of biomechanics to high school students through hands-on activities, demonstrations, and Q&A sessions with real-world professionals.
CMU Engineering
NSF CAREER grants awarded to engineering faculty
Four engineering faculty received NSF CAREER awards to support their education and research goals.