Welcome

Welcome to the Keplinger Research Group. We are a multidisciplinary team with backgrounds in soft matter physics, mechanics, materials science and chemistry. Our projects span basic and applied research,  with a current focus on:
  1. Bioinspired soft actuators, sensors, robots and machines 
  2. Sustainable energy generation and energy harvesting for biomedical applications 
  3. Electrical and mechanical properties of polymers


Selected Publications


All publications

News

HASEL artificial muscles published in Science and Science Robotics | January 2018 
Two papers published on the same day in Science and Science Robotics introduce Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing ELectrostatic (HASEL) actuators. Prototypical designs with muscle-like performance, self-healing abilities, and exceptional versatility illustrate the wide potential of HASEL actuators for next-generation soft robotic devices.

Packard Fellowship awarded | October 2017 
Dr. Keplinger has been named a 2017 Packard Fellow! One of the most prestigious awards given to early-career scientists, this $875,000.00 unrestricted award provides funding over 5 years "to think big and look at complex issues with a fresh perspective".
Grant Awarded | October 2017 
Interdisciplinary team receives $1,250,000.00
from NSF - CPS over four years to study
Synthetic, Distributed Sensing, Soft and Modular Tissue (sTISSUE).