Karen I. Winey

Karen I. Winey is the Pender Professor of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania with a 50:50 appointment in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. Karen’s current research interests focus on (1) ion and proton conduction in polymer for a variety of electrochemical applications, including batteries, fuel cells, and electrolyzers, (2) polymer-to-polymer chemical upcycling of polyolefins to functionalized polyolefins, and (3) nanoparticle dynamics in polymer melts and polymer electrolytes. Her approach typically includes model materials, careful processing, and thorough characterization of morphology and properties, and often directly couples to theory and simulations.

Karen received her B.S. in materials science from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She completed a postdoctoral position at AT&T Bell Laboratories before joining Penn.  During her 2014-15 sabbatical leave, she was a Visiting Miller Research Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Visiting Scholar at the Materials Research Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Barbara.  During her 2023-24 sabbatical, Karen was hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

In addition to earlier recognitions, Karen was awarded the 2020 Braskem Award by AIChE, a fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2022, and the 2023 ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry. Karen has delivered over 290 invited lectures, holds 21 patents, has published over 270 papers, and has graduated 31 doctoral students.  Innovations from her research group have been licensed by Teva Pharmaceuticals, Xenocs, and CSIRO.

Karen has held various service and leadership positions, including department chair and chair of the Division of Polymer Physics within the APS.

Outside of work, she enjoys bicycling, hiking, and going to new and favorite restaurants with friends. She is also a big fan of the U.S. National Parks.

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Selected Honors and Awards

• Turner J. Alfrey Visiting Professor, Michigan State University 2025
• ACS Polymer Chemistry Award, American Chemical Society 2023:
  • “For outstanding contributions to the understanding and advancement of polymer nanocomposites and ion-containing polymers, particularly structural control and transport dynamics.”
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science 2022
  • “For distinguished contributions to the field of polymer science, particularly in the understanding of and manipulation of unique polymer nanocomposites and ion-containing polymers.”
• Plenary Speaker, POLY/PMSE Division, American Chemical Society Spring 2022
• Fellow, POLY (Division of Polymer Chemistry) American Chemical Society, 2021
• Braskem Award, Materials Engr. and Sci. Division, Am. Inst. of Chemical Engineering, 2020
• Mark J. Herman Senior Scholar Award, POLY, American Chemical Society, 2020
• Trustees Council of PennWomen Award for Undergraduate Advising , 2017
• Fellow, PMSE (Polymeric Materials: Science and Energy Division) American Chemical Society, 2016
• Visiting Miller Research Professor, Miller Institute, University of California, Berkeley, 2014
• TowerBrook Foundation Faculty Fellow, 2013
• Fellow, Materials Research Society, 2013
• George H. Heilmeier Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, 2012
• National Science Foundation, Special Creativity Award, 2009-2011
• Fellow, American Physical Society, 2003
• Associate Editor, Macromolecules, 2010-2014
• Chair Elect, Vice Chair, Chair, Past Chair, Division of Polymer Physics, American Physical Society, 2011-2015
• Chair, Polymer Physics, Gordon Research Conference, 2010
• Guest Editor, MRS Bulletin, 2007