Ellen Kuhl

Ellen Kuhl serves as the Catherine Holman Johnson Director of Stanford Bio-X and the Walter B. Reinhold Professor in the School of Engineering at Stanford University. She holds dual appointments as Professor of Mechanical Engineering and, by courtesy, Bioengineering, leading interdisciplinary research at the convergence of physics, computation, and biology.

Her academic credentials include:

• Habil., TU Kaiserslautern (2004)
• Ph.D., University of Stuttgart (2000)
• M.S., Leibniz University of Hanover (1995)
• B.S., Leibniz University of Hanover (1993)

Kuhl pioneers Living Matter Physics, developing computational frameworks that integrate physics-based modeling with machine learning to simulate biological systems across scales. Her work spans cardiovascular dynamics (including the 400-member global Living Heart Project), neurodegenerative disease progression (Alzheimer's tau pathology), and sustainable food systems (mechanics of plant/fungi-based meats). Recent innovations focus on automated model discovery using constitutive neural networks to democratize simulation tools for soft matter systems, with applications in precision medicine and climate-resilient food innovation. Her lab actively bridges engineering fundamentals with urgent societal challenges in healthcare and planetary health.

Her publication trajectory reveals accelerating integration of AI with biomechanics, particularly in automated constitutive modeling for diverse tissues and food materials. Key trends include uncertainty quantification in neural networks, physics-informed machine learning for digital twins, and democratization of simulation tools for non-experts – reflecting her commitment to accessible computational science.

Major recognitions include:

• National Science Foundation Career Award (2010)
• Humboldt Research Award (2016)
• ASME Ted Belytschko Applied Mechanics Award (2021)
• ERC Advanced Grant (2024)
• Fellowships in ASME and AIMBE

As Bio-X Director, Kuhl orchestrates major interdisciplinary initiatives connecting engineering with life sciences, securing substantial funding including the 2024 ERC Advanced Grant. Her leadership extends to the US National Committee on Biomechanics and World Council of Biomechanics, while her Living Heart Project demonstrates exceptional translational impact through industry/medical partnerships across 24 countries.

The Living Matter Lab operates as a nexus for high-impact research, developing computational tools that transform cardiovascular medicine, decode neurodegenerative mechanisms, and engineer sustainable food alternatives. Current projects leverage AI to accelerate plant-based meat development, model elephant-trunk-inspired soft robotics, and personalize cardiac simulations – all unified by her vision of physics-driven machine learning for global challenges.