PHILADELPHIA, PA, January 14, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Karen I. Winey has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Winey has established a distinguished career in the field of polymers, earning recognition for her expertise and leadership. Since 2021, she has held the title of Harold Pender Professor of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania, where she currently leads a research group comprising more than 20 individuals, including graduate students, undergraduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Dr. Winey has a 50:50 joint appointment in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of her research. Her current research explores polymers with potential applications in electrochemical devices and separations, reflecting her commitment to advancing materials science.

From 2016 to 2021, Dr. Winey served as department chair of materials science and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. In this capacity, she guided departmental strategy and fostered academic excellence. She was also recognized as the TowerBrook Faculty Fellow from 2013 to 2021, a role that underscored her contributions to both research and mentorship within the university.

Between 2011 and 2014, Dr. Winey was appointed Penn director of the Nanotechnology Institute and Energy Commercialization Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Her leadership facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in nanotechnology and energy research. From 2005 to 2013, she held the position of professor at the university, following her tenure as associate professor from 2000 to 2005 and assistant professor from 1992 to 2000. These progressive appointments reflect her sustained impact on academic scholarship and student development.

In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Winey contributed to scientific publishing as an associate editor for Macromolecules from 2010 to 2014, supporting the dissemination of cutting-edge polymer research. Prior to her academic appointments, she gained valuable industry experience as a postdoctoral member of technical staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories from 1991 to 1992 and as a research scientist at Eastman Kodak Company from 1985 to 1986.

Among Dr. Winey's most notable achievements is her pioneering work in long-term drug delivery systems for patients with schizophrenia. Together with her team, she developed an innovative solution by physically combining an active pharmaceutical ingredient with a biodegradable polymer to create a long-term subcutaneous implant. Preliminary studies conducted at the University of Pennsylvania demonstrated the efficacy of this approach in laboratory animals. They first patented the technology in 2010. Subsequently, the technology was licensed and further developed by industry partners before receiving FDA approval, and is now available from Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Winey's academic foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in materials science and engineering from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, graduating in 1985. She continued her education by earning a Doctor of Philosophy in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1991. Her graduate studies and postdoctoral fellowship provided critical training that informed her later innovations in polymer science and materials characterization.

Her professional accomplishments have been recognized through numerous honors. In 2023, Dr. Winey received the Polymer Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society. She is also the recipient of the Braskem Award for Excellence in Materials Engineering and Science from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Her peers have elected her as a fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the Materials Research Society, the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Dr. Winey has made significant contributions to scientific literature with over 275 peer-reviewed journal articles and _ 36,000 citations. Notable recent works include co-authoring "Thiol–ene Click Chemistry Incorporates Hydroxyl Functionality on Polycyclooctene to Tune Properties," published in ACS Macro Letters in 2023; "Superionic Li-Ion Transport in a Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Blend Electrolyte," published in Macromolecules in 2022; "Structure–Property Relationships in Single-Ion Conducting Multiblock Copolymers: A Phase Diagram and Ionic Conductivities," published in Macromolecules in 2021; and "Dynamics of Polymer Segments, Polymer Chains, and Nanoparticles in Polymer Nanocomposite Melts: A Review," published in Progress in Polymer Science in 2020.

In her personal life, Dr. Winey enjoys spending time with family, bicycling, exercising, cooking, and hiking. She is dedicated to both her family and professional aspirations. Looking ahead, she is enthusiastic about advancing research aimed at understanding ion transport—specifically protons, hydroxides, or metal cations—through plastics using promising fluorine-free materials developed by her team. She anticipates continued progress as these materials are evaluated for performance in various devices.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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