Nathan Usevitch

Nathan Usevitch is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU), College of Engineering. He joined the faculty in 2023 and maintains office hours during the Winter 2025 semester on Tuesdays (1-2 PM), Wednesdays (2-3 PM), and Fridays (12-1 PM). His office is located at 360 I EB in Provo, Utah.

Education:
Dr. Usevitch holds a PhD (2020) and Master's degree (2017) in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. His doctoral thesis focused on soft, shape-changing robots.

Research Focus:
His work centers on innovative robotic systems, emphasizing three interconnected themes:

• Soft & Compliant Robotics: Design of robots using flexible materials (e.g., inflatable structures, hyperelastic actuators) for adaptive movement and human interaction.
• Human-Centered Systems: Development of haptic interfaces (e.g., VR gloves, 3D shape displays) and wearable robots for enhanced human-machine collaboration.
• Reconfigurable & Space Systems: Modular robots, origami-inspired deployable structures, and lunar exploration systems leveraging geometric optimization.

Prior to academia, he designed haptic gloves at Meta Reality Labs.

Publication Trends:
His 15 most recent articles (2021–2025) reveal a strong emphasis on soft robotics actuation, space-deployable mechanisms (origami arrays, lunar robots), and haptic interface innovation. Recurring technical themes include modular design, pneumatic systems, and kinematic optimization for reconfigurable structures.