Ryan Truby

Ryan Truby is an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University, holding the June and Donald Brewer Junior Professorship. He leads the Robotic Matter Lab, focusing on developing bioinspired soft robots and materials through interdisciplinary research in materials science, robotics, and additive manufacturing. His work bridges the gap between biological and artificial systems, emphasizing autonomy, actuation, and sensorization in soft machines.

Truby earned his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Harvard University and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. His research integrates advanced materials synthesis, novel fabrication methods, and machine learning to create soft robots capable of complex tasks in healthcare, exploration, and automation. Key areas include soft artificial muscles, multi-material 3D printing, and proprioceptive control systems.

He has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the DARPA Young Faculty Award (2023), ONR and AFOSR Young Investigator Awards (2022), and the Schmidt Science Fellowship. His lab’s innovations aim to pioneer next-generation autonomous systems through material-driven intelligence.

Truby’s work emphasizes collaboration across disciplines, with projects addressing challenges in robotic materials, bioinspired design, and sustainable manufacturing. Current efforts include chemically fueled microrobots, programmable auxetic materials, and machine learning-enhanced control strategies for soft robotics.