Distinguished Speaker: Susan S. Margulies, PhD, Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, Vanderbilt University

Bio:

Dr. Susan Margulies is an internationally recognized biomedical engineer and pioneer in the biomechanics of traumatic brain injuries in children and adolescents, as well as lung injuries associated with mechanical ventilation. Her fundamental discoveries have translated directly into improved injury prevention, diagnostics, and treatments. Her scholarly record includes more than $35 million in research funding, over 350 peer- reviewed scientific articles and 11 book chapters. As Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Margulies brings a proven track record of catalyzing research innovation on a national scale. As Assistant Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering from 2021 to 2025, she oversaw more than 40 percent of federal funding for fundamental engineering research at academic institutions. During her tenure, she launched new funding mechanisms to support high-risk, high-reward projects and forged dozens of strategic partnerships with federal agencies, industry, and philanthropic organizations. Previously, Dr. Margulies served as the Chair of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, where she tripled research activity and guided the program to the top position in national rankings. A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Margulies has trained more than 50 graduate and post-doctoral researchers. She is a vocal champion for creating inclusive STEM ecosystems, having launched institute-wide initiatives to broaden participation, including the NSF’s TeachEngineering and the Penn Faculty Pathways program. Dr. Margulies’ scholarly impact is distinguished by her election to the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Inventors. She is a Fellow of ASME, BMES, and AIMBE. In 2026, in recognition of her profound impact on the field, the ASME Foundation established the Susan S. Margulies Excellence in Leadership in Bioengineering Medal. She earned her B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University and her Master's and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania.