Sandra DeVincent Wolf
Executive Director, Manufacturing Futures Institute and NextManufacturing Center
Adjunct Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Sandra DeVincent Wolf is the executive director of the CMU Manufacturing Futures Institute where she works to identify, connect, leverage, and accelerate research in manufacturing across campus and with industry and government partners to support innovation that will accelerate the path of discovery to commercialization to increase US competitiveness and drive economic development in the Pittsburgh region. She is additionally the executive director of the CMU NextManufacturing Center for additive manufacturing research where she leads the activities and partnerships of the center and its consortium. Wolf originally joined the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in 2015 as Director of Research Partnerships, responsible for facilitating research partnerships and the growth of new initiatives, centers and institutes, and industrial consortia. She continues to lead partnership growth in support of manufacturing at CMU.
Prior to joining CMU, Wolf spent 15 years in research, development, engineering, and management in advanced materials and manufacturing working in national laboratories, a start-up manufacturing company and large corporations. Her technical work experience was followed by over 10 years in executive management of nonprofits where she was responsible for leading initiatives from conception through implementation and assessment, internal and external communications, strategic planning and operational implementation, program management, corporate and government relations, education and outreach, and staff/volunteer engagement and development.
Wolf is a member of the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) Advanced Manufacturing, Materials and Processes Program (AMMP) Technical Advisory Board, the America Makes Executive Committee and Governance Board, the SWPA Additive Manufacturing Working Group, the Pittsburgh Chapter of Women in 3D Printing, and the Pittsburgh Chapter of ASM International. She was recently appointed to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Convergent Manufacturing.
Wolf holds the S.B. in materials science and engineering from MIT. She earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in the same field from Case Western Reserve University while she was a NASA Fellow in residence at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Wolf was awarded the CMU College of Engineering’s 2018 Inspirational Leadership Award.
Education
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University (NASA Fellow)
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University (NASA Fellow)
S.B. Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
What Inspired You to Become an Engineer: Sandra DeVincent Wolf
Virtual Café Sci: Metal 3D Printing
Research Interests
- additive manufacturing
- advanced manufacturing
- advanced materials processing and manufacturing
- commercialization, innovation, selection
- cybersecurity + privacy
- data science
- digital twins
- education technologies
- engineering education
- generative manufacturing
- innovation
- manufacturing engineering
- manufacturing technologies/processes
- manufacturing workforce
- materials characterization
- materials science & engineering
- metallurgy & metallurgical engineering
- ML and AI
- professional skills
- project management
- robotics
- sensors
- STEM education
- surface science
- virtual reality
- women in technology
Media mentions
CMU Engineering
A sweet way to teach kids about manufacturing
Sneha Prabha Narra uses hands-on activities to introduce engineering and additive manufacturing concepts to local grade school students.
MITRE Grand Challenges Power Hour
Revolutionizing the American Supply Chain through Advanced Manufacturing
NextM/MFI’s Sandra DeVincent Wolf participated in a recent panel discussion during Mitre’s Grand Challenges Power Hour: Revolutionizing the American Supply Chain through Advanced Manufacturing.
CMU Engineering
Manufacturing Day 2022
Area high school students visit Mill 19 on Manufacturing Day to learn about advanced manufacturing career opportunities.
the Manufacturing Futures Institute
Guiding the clean energy transition
MFI showcased the future of advanced manufacturing and sustainable practices during the Global Clean Energy Action Forum.
Velo 3D
Wolf featured on additive manufacturing
MFI/NextManufacturing’s Sandra DeVincent Wolf spoke about the unique benefits of additive manufacturing versus traditional manufacturing on the new episode of the @Velo3D podcast, #LaserFocused.
CMU Engineering
Biden calls for investment in American innovation
President Biden touted the importance of advanced manufacturing innovation, robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence during his recent visit to Mill 19.
Wolf gives an introduction to 3D printing talk at Carnegie Science Center
Sandra DeVincent Wolf conducted a program on metal additive manufacturing at the Carnegie Science Center on November 1, 2021.
The National Academies of Engineering, Science, and Mathematics
Wolf selected for convergent manufacturing committee
MFI/Next Manufacturing Sandra DeVincent Wolf has been selected to serve on the National Academies Committee on Convergent Manufacturing. The committee will put together a publicly-accessible workshop on the topic.
Carnegie Mellon introduces local students to advanced manufacturing careers
NextM and MFI's Sandra DeVincent Wolf led a daylong career exploration series event that introduced Pittsburgh area high school students to career opportunities in advanced manufacturing.
Wolf hosts 3D printing for biomedical applications panel discussion
NextM and MFI's Sandra DeVincent Wolf moderated the 3D Printing for Biomedical Applications panel discussion hosted by Women in 3D Printing.
Wolf joins women STEM professionals at Girls Rock Science event
MFI's and NextM's Sandra DeVincent Wolf joined female STEM professionals from Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Duquesne University and Argo AI in a conversation to inform and inspire girls interested in science, technology, engineering, and math.
CMU Engineering
CMU and CCDC ARL announce new cooperative agreement
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory (ARL) have entered into a $3.5 million cooperative agreement that supports machine learning-enabled additive manufacturing.