Karen Thompson Medhi Professor Emeritus, College of Engineering
Biography
Wendy C. Crone is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Engineering Physics and Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She has also held affiliate appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and was a Discovery Fellow with the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. Her research is in the area of solid mechanics, and many of the topics she has investigated are connected with nanotechnology and biotechnology. She has applied her technical expertise to:
- Improving fundamental understanding of mechanical response of materials
- Enhancing material behavior through surface modification and nanostructuring
- Exploring the interplay between cells and the mechanics of their surroundings
- Developing new material applications and medical devices
Professor Crone has worked in the medical device industry and has publications and patents pending on medical devices and biomaterials. As a sample of prior accomplishments, her research group has demonstrated:
- A shape memory alloy-based thermomechanical data storage device at the nanoscale
- Plasma surface modifications techniques to produce highly biocompatible shape memory alloys
- Magnetic methods for control over the position and orientation of nanowires
- A medical device for treating brain aneurysms
- Engineered substrate systems to enhance maturation of stem cell derived cardiomyocytes
Additional Accomplishments
In addition to more than 80 peer reviewed journal publications, dozens of explanatory education products, and four patents, she is the author of the books Survive and Thrive: A Guide for Untenured Faculty and Introduction to Engineering Research. Prof. Crone has been funded by National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Whitaker Foundation. She was awarded a CAREER Award from NSF (2002) and a K18 Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research from NIH (2011).
Prof. Crone has garnered awards for research, teaching and mentoring, including the Doris Slesinger Award for Excellence in Mentoring (2011); WEPAN Educator Award from the Women in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network (2011); F. G. Tatnall Award (2024), Fellow (2015) and M.M. Frocht Award (2013) from the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM); Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research form UW-Madison (2020); and Distinguished Alumni Award in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2022). She has been a member of SEM since 1988 and has served as Vice President (2016-2017), Executive Board Member (2010-2012); National Meetings Council Member (2010-2012); Vice-Chair, MEMS and Nanotechnology Technical Division (2001-2006); and society representative to the US National Committee on Theoretical & Applied Mechanics, National Academy of Science (2015-2018).
She has also held numerous leadership roles at UW-Madison, including Faculty Co-Director of the Women in Science and Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program (1999-2001); Co-Lead of the Interdisciplinary Education Group (2016-2021, 2023-present) and Director of Education and Outreach (2001-2007) for the Wisconsin Materials Science Research and Engineering Center (MRSEC); the Director of the Women Faculty Mentoring Program (2007-2011); and Interim Dean and Associate Dean of the Graduate School (2011-2015). She has served as a Program Director with the National Science Foundation in the Mechanics of Materials and Structures (MoMS) Program, Biomechanics & Mechanobiology (BMMB) Program, and Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (2021-2023).
Professional Highlights
- Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2024-present
- Co-Lead, Interdisciplinary Education Group, Wisconsin Materials Science Research and Engineering Center (MRSEC), 2016-2021 and 2023-present
- Program Director, 2021-2023, and Expert, 2023-2025, Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) Division, National Science Foundation, Engineering Directorate
- Karen Thompson Medhi Professor, College of Engineering, 2017-2024
- Discovery Fellow, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 2016-2024
- Associate Chair for Faculty and Staff Development, Dept. of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019-2021
- Professor in the Dept. of Engineering Physics (Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009-2024
- UW in Florence Study Abroad Program Co-Leader, International Academic Programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Spring 2017
- Interim Dean, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2014-2015
- Associate Dean of Graduate Education, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012-2014
- Associate Professor 2004-2009, Assistant Professor 1998-2004
- Interim Associate Dean of Physical Sciences, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison 2011-2012
- Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the Materials Science Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Director, Women Faculty Mentoring Program, 2007-2011
- Director of the Interdisciplinary Education Group of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) on Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces, 2002 – 2007
- Vice-Chair, MEMS and Nanotechnology Technical Division, Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM), 2001 – 2006
- Advanced Materials Exemplar Faculty Committee, Worldwide University Network, 2002 – 2005
- Faculty Co-Director, Women in Science and Engineering Residential Program, 1999 – 2001