Nancy R. Sottos received her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware in 1991. She is co-chair of the Molecular and Electronic Nanostructures Research Initiative and a part time faculty member at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois. Her research group studies the mechanics of complex, heterogeneous materials such as advanced composites, thin film devices and microelectronic packaging, specializing in micro and nanoscale characterization of deformation and failure in these material systems. Current research focuses on the development of autonomic materials systems that have the ability to achieve adaptation and response in an independent and autonomic fashion. Her research group was awarded the American Society for Composites Best Paper Award in 2002 and 2003, and the Tech Museum of Innovation Award for Technology Benefiting Humanity in 2001 for work on self-healing polymers. She is a member-at-large of the U.S. National Committee on Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, on the editorial board for Composites Science and Technology and Experimental Mechanics, and is the faculty advisor for the student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. Internet: http://www.matse.illinois.edu/faculty/Sottos.html