Siyi Xu

Siyi Xu is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), leading the Wearable and Implantable Soft Electronics & Robotics (WISER) Lab. He holds a Ph.D. (2022), M.S. (2018), and B.S. (2016) in Materials Science and Engineering from Harvard University and UIUC, respectively. His research focuses on soft robotics, wearable/implantable electronics, and electrically-responsive soft actuators, emphasizing biocompatibility and real-world applications.

Education:

• Ph.D., Engineering Sciences - Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Harvard University, 2022
• M.S., Engineering Sciences - Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Harvard University, 2018
• B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, UIUC, 2016

Research interests include elastomer-based wearable interfaces, stretchable sensors, and soft fluidic actuators. His work bridges materials science, robotics, and biomedical engineering, with applications in wearable devices and soft robotics systems. Recent articles highlight advancements in dielectric elastomer actuators, soft peristaltic pumps, and biocompatible sensors.

Scientific Awards:

• IEEE Transactions on Robotics King-Sun Fu Memorial Best Paper Award (2021)
• Rising Stars in Mechanical Engineering (2021)

Prof. Xu's lab focuses on innovative soft electronic and robotic systems. His research has been featured in top journals like Advanced Materials, Science Robotics, and Nature Biomedical Engineering.