Kristina Shea

Prof. Kristina Shea is a Full Professor of Engineering Design and Computing at ETH Zürich's Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, leading the Institute of Design, Materials a Fabrication. Her research focuses on additive manufacturing innovations, sustainable design for low-resource settings, and computational design synthesis methods. Key areas include 4D printing, multi-material AM, topology optimization, and generative design applications in biomedical devices and robotics.

She holds editorial roles in journals like Programmable Materials and AIEDAM, and has received awards including the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2001) and ASME Fellowship (2014). Her academic journey includes roles at Cambridge University, TU München, and postdoctoral work at EPFL. Current research emphasizes smart materials, deployable structures, and AI-driven design automation.

• Education: BS/MS (1993-1995), PhD (1997) - Carnegie Mellon University
• Positions: Visiting Professor at Cambridge (2002-2005), TU München (2005-2012)
• Key Projects: 4D printed actuators, sustainable construction materials, medical device heuristics

Her work bridges theoretical design methods with practical applications, addressing global challenges through innovative manufacturing and material science solutions.