We extend a warm welcome to Wensi Wu, who joins the MEAM faculty as Assistant Research Professor. Wensi’s research sits at the convergence of applied mechanics, scientific machine learning, and medicine, where she develops predictive virtual models of the heart, grounded in the in vivo principles of tissue mechanics, to tackle critical challenges in cardiovascular research.
“I have always been fascinated by the beauty and interdisciplinary nature of applied mechanics,” Wensi shares. While completing her PhD in Structural Mechanics at Cornell in 2021, a time marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Wensi was prompted to reflect on the broader significance of her work. These moments inspired her to direct her skills toward research that would both align with her intellectual interests and make a meaningful impact on human lives. “Realizing this led me to pursue a career in cardiovascular research,” Wensi recalls, “a field that embodies profound mechanical complexity across fluid dynamics, tissue mechanics, and growth and remodeling, while presenting unique opportunities to improve the quality and well-being of people’s lives.”
Wensi is particularly energized by Penn’s collaborative environment. “What excites me most about my work at Penn is the opportunity to expand the periphery of knowledge in cardiovascular research through collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers, and domain experts across the School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP),” she explains. “The close proximity of these institutions creates a unique hub where scientific curiosity and societal impact converge.”
Beyond the lab, Wensi maintains an active lifestyle through taekwondo and running. She expresses her creative side through photography and music, both singing and playing guitar.