Dr. Enze Chen | Soft Materials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Enze Chen is a postdoctoral researcher in the Franck Lab at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he explores high-strain-rate injury mechanisms in biological tissues. He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where he specialized in architected and soft materials, combining digital design, additive manufacturing, and mechanical testing. His interdisciplinary research spans civil engineering, material science, and biomedical applications. His scholarly work has been published in high-impact journals such as Science Advances, IJSS, and Mechanics of Materials, establishing him as an emerging expert at the interface of materials mechanics and biology.

Dr. Enze Chen | University of Wisconsin-Madison | United States

Profile

SCOPUS

GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Education

Dr. Chen completed his Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, following a B.S. from Nanjing Forestry University in China. His academic path has been marked by deep engagement in experimental mechanics, digital fabrication, and biomaterials research. During his doctoral studies, he worked under Prof. Stavros Gaitanaros and developed several new insights into the mechanics of brittle lattices, DNA nanostructures, and soft architected materials. He now applies this strong theoretical and experimental background to bioengineering challenges in his postdoctoral work.

Experience

Dr. Chen has extensive experience in the experimental and computational study of advanced materials. As a graduate researcher, he pioneered mechanical studies on brittle lattices and cellular foams using additive manufacturing and tomography. His work also included collaborative research on collagen scaffolds at Cornell University. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he now investigates trauma-induced injury mechanics in brain tissue, including responses to blast waves and directed energy. He is a key contributor to the interdisciplinary PANTHER program and actively collaborates across institutions, positioning himself at the forefront of materials-for-health research.

Contributions

Dr. Enze Chen’s research significantly advances the understanding of both architected and biological materials. He developed models to predict buckling behaviors in elastic tubular structures and correlated collagen scaffold microstructures with their mechanical deformation, aiding in biomedical scaffold design. He quantified the fracture toughness of brittle lattices and introduced a crystallography-inspired framework for designing 3D metamaterials with tunable mechanical, thermal, and permeability traits. In the biomedical domain, he identified mechanisms of secondary brain injury (like tauopathy and neuroinflammation) and created microsecond-micrometer platforms to measure tissue responses to blast and directed energy.

Award

Dr. Enze Chen received the prestigious Hickman Fellowship from Johns Hopkins University in recognition of his exceptional academic performance and research excellence during his graduate studies. This competitive fellowship is awarded to outstanding students who demonstrate strong potential for impactful contributions in their field. Dr. Chen’s selection reflects his pioneering work in the mechanics of architected and biological materials, including fracture analysis of brittle lattices and soft tissue deformation under high strain rates. The fellowship supported his continued exploration of interdisciplinary challenges in materials science, further affirming his capabilities as a high-achieving and dedicated researcher.

Research Focus 

Dr. Chen’s research bridges structural mechanics and biomedical engineering. His work focuses on architected materials, particularly brittle lattices, DNA nanostructures, and soft biological scaffolds. He has contributed new knowledge in fracture mechanics, energy absorption, and material instabilities. His postdoctoral research applies these concepts to brain injury modeling under high-strain-rate conditions, including blast exposure and directed energy effects. This work has important implications for defense, neuroscience, and medical innovation.

Publications

A Data-Driven Framework for Structure-Property Correlation in Ordered and Disordered Cellular Metamaterials
Authors: S. Luan, E. Chen, J. John, S. Gaitanaros
Journal: Science Advances, 2023, Vol. 9(41), eadi1453

On the Compressive Strength of Brittle Lattice Metamaterials
Authors: E. Chen, S. Luan, S. Gaitanaros
Journal: International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2022, Vol. 257, 111871

On the Strength of Brittle Foams with Uniform and Gradient Densities
Authors: E. Chen, S. Luan, S. Gaitanaros
Journal: Extreme Mechanics Letters, 2022, Vol. 51, 101598

Stretching DNA Origami: Effect of Nicks and Holliday Junctions on the Axial Stiffness
Authors: W.H. Jung, E. Chen, R. Veneziano, S. Gaitanaros, Y. Chen
Journal: Nucleic Acids Research, 2020, Vol. 48(21), 12407–12414

Stability of an Elastic Honeycomb Under Out-of-Plane Compression
Authors: Y. Tang, E. Chen, S. Gaitanaros
Journal: International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2025

Conclusion

Dr. Enze Chen is a highly qualified and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His interdisciplinary research, scientific rigor, and active collaborations reflect a mature and innovative approach to solving complex problems in material and biomedical sciences. With further expansion into innovation ecosystems and research leadership, Dr. Chen is on a clear path to becoming a leading figure in his field.