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Zhanwei Wang is an Unpaid employee at the Department of Applied Mechanics and the Federated labs AI and Robotics at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research focuses on soft robotics, self-healing materials, fluid dynamics, and vacuum technology. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from VUB (2024), focusing on encoding physical intelligence into soft robotics via smart materials and continuum mechanics. Prior degrees include a Master's in Chemical Process Equipment (Northeastern University, China, 2020) and a Bachelor's in Process Equipment and Control Engineering (Northeastern University, China, 2017). His work emphasizes interdisciplinary innovation in robotics, sustainability, and material science. Key Research Areas: Self-healing robots, 3D printing for robotics, fluid dynamics in soft systems. Recent Collaborations: Peer reviews for Sensors Journal, IEEE Robotics & Automation Letters, and the 2025 IEEE/RSJ IROS conference. His publications explore adaptive robotic systems, sensor integration, and sustainable material solutions. He participated in the IMEC ITF World 2024 conference and contributed to media discussions on self-locking suction cups for robots.

• Soft Robotics
• Self-Healing Materials
• Fluid Dynamics
• +3 more

Dr. Krishna Kumar Saxena is a faculty member at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Research and Education - Materials and Mechanical Engineering (Geel Campus) and the Manufacturing Processes and Systems (MaPS) unit in the Arenberg campus. He is actively involved in research, teaching, and engagement, with a focus on non-conventional micromachining processes and hybrid manufacturing technologies. Research Interests: Non-conventional micromachining (ECM, EDM, laser), hybrid laser-electrochemical processes, electrochemical nano-manufacturing, simulation-based virtual sensing, and sustainable manufacturing systems. Teaching: Contributes to courses on smart mechanics and industrial control systems. Engagement: Participates in EU Horizon 2020 projects (MICROMAN, ProSurf), FWO-funded postdoctoral research (2021-2024), and international collaborations (University of Tokyo, NSFC mobility projects).

• Micromanufacturing
• Non-conventional Machining
• Electrochemical Machining (ECM)
• +7 more

Pasquale Ferrentino is a Researcher at the Department of Applied Mechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His work focuses on soft robotics, self-healing materials, and finite element analysis (FEA) modeling. He has contributed to developing sustainable soft robots using self-healing polymers and recyclable materials, as well as advancing simulation techniques in the SOFA framework for soft actuator design. Ferrentino has published extensively on topics like material-based modeling of continuum robots, human-robot interaction interfaces, and biomedical robotics applications. He received the SOFA Award - Technical Committee Prize in 2024 for his contributions to robotics modeling. His research spans collaboration with international teams, addressing challenges in wearable robotics, soft tissue interaction, and multi-material actuator optimization. Ferrentino has presented his work at major conferences and co-created datasets for self-healing soft finger tutorials and FEA-based modeling.

• Robotics
• Soft Robotics
• Materials Science
• +4 more

Niko Van den Brande is a Researcher in Sustainable Materials Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium. His research focuses on polymer chemistry, sustainable materials development, and advanced material characterization techniques. With an h-index of 21 and over 1074 citations, he has established himself as a significant contributor to materials science. His research interests span polymer chemistry, sustainable materials engineering, self-healing polymers, Diels-Alder reactions, lignin-based thermosets, organic electronics, thermal analysis, and crystallization phenomena. His work bridges fundamental chemical principles with practical applications in sustainable material design and engineering. Van den Brande's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on dynamic polymer networks, self-healing mechanisms, and sustainable material systems. His research integrates computational modeling, experimental synthesis, and advanced characterization techniques to develop next-generation materials with applications in soft robotics, organic electronics, and circular economy systems. Scientific Awards: 18th Annual meeting of the Belgian Polymer Group, BPG-2011 Poster Prize (2011) ChemCYS 2012 prize for the best oral presentation in Polymer Chemistry (2012) Solvay Award (2010) TAWN Thermal Analysis Award (2012) Van den Brande actively participates in numerous research projects including FWOSBO63 (MycoMatters), HERC65 (X-Ray Approach), OZR4285 (Microbe Cultivation Infrastructure), FWOTM1156 (Self-Healing Networks), and FWOSBO54 (Lignin-based Thermosets). His collaborative work spans multiple institutions and involves interdisciplinary teams focusing on sustainable material solutions. His research group collaborates extensively within the Belgian Polymer Group and participates in international conferences, demonstrating strong engagement with the global materials science community. Current projects indicate active work in mycelium-based materials, fungal engineered living materials, and sustainable polymer networks for various applications.

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Sustainable Materials
• +7 more

Christopher Van Vlerken is a Researcher affiliated with the Department of Applied Mechanics at the Faculty of Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research focuses on Human-robot Interaction, wearable robotics, and prosthetics, with a particular emphasis on exoskeleton design, soft pneumatic actuators, and biomechanical interfaces. He collaborates with Federated labs AI and Robotics, contributing to projects like the AIR-exo initiative. Education: Doctoral scholarship in AI and Robotics (PhD). His research interests include developing assistive technologies for rehabilitation, integrating sensors for real-time monitoring, and improving human-robot collaboration through advanced materials and actuators. Recent work explores muscle oximetry sensors and methods to characterize soft tissue interactions with wearable robots. Key projects include OZR4007: AIR-exo (2022–2023), focusing on active physical interfaces for exoskeletons. His publications span topics like exoskeleton design, soft robotics materials, and biomechanical analysis. He has advised on STEM programs and contributed to grant proposals for strategic robotics research. Van Vlerken is part of the BruBotics research group, which has pioneered advancements in prosthetics and wearable robotics over two decades. His work bridges biomechanical engineering and robotics, aiming to enhance assistive technologies for clinical and industrial applications.

• Human-robot Interaction
• Robotics
• Prosthetics
• +3 more

Aleix Costa Cornellà is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in Materials Science and Sustainable Materials Engineering , based in Brussels, Belgium. His work focuses on the synthesis and application of self-healing polymers for robotics and sensor systems, with a particular emphasis on integrating dynamic covalent bonds to enhance material properties. Key collaborations include projects with European Commission funding (EU626: Soft, Self-responsive, Smart Materials for Robots) Active in international conferences such as BioRob and ICRA40 ORCID profile: 0000-0003-2804-5641 Research Interests: Aleix's work bridges fundamental polymer chemistry with applied robotics, developing materials that combine associative/dissociative dynamic covalent bonds for improved healing efficiency and mechanical stability. Current projects explore microwave heating activation and fused granulate fabrication methods. Publication Trends: Recent outputs (2022-2024) emphasize self-healing polymers for sustainable robotics, additive manufacturing techniques, and viscoelastic material optimization . Collaborative work with industrial partners appears in Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing journals. Awards: RSC Applied Polymers Oral Presentation Award (2024) Advising: Supervised two Master's theses on conductive inks and molecular architecture optimization for self-healing materials, co-advised with Guy Van Assche and Joost Brancart. Labs & Collaborations: Part of the Belgian Polymer Group and ICRA40 conference networks. Collaborates with researchers in polymer physics, biomedical robotics, and sustainable manufacturing.

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Sustainable Materials Engineering
• +5 more

Ellen Roels is a Researcher in Applied Mechanics at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. Her work focuses on self-healing materials, additive manufacturing, and soft robotics, particularly in designing sustainable and durable robotic systems. She leads or co-leads multiple projects, including FWOTM1234 (2024–2027) and ShINTO (2022–2025), exploring metafluids and self-healing polymers for robotics applications. Her research interests span polymers, robotics design, and material science, with a strong emphasis on integrating self-healing properties into soft robots. Notable achievements include a Guinness World Record, the Best Paper Award at Robosoft 2023, and awards for science communication. Roels actively collaborates internationally and has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles, contributing to conferences and educational outreach initiatives. Her projects emphasize sustainable materials, such as self-healing polymers and castor oil-based elastomers, while advancing additive manufacturing techniques for soft robotics components. She also develops interdisciplinary tutorials, like a self-healing soft finger with embedded sensors, bridging education and practical robotics applications. Key Projects: FWOTM1234, ShINTO, Additive Manufacturing of Self-Healing Robots Grants: FWOSB92, OZR3346, EUAR79 Labs/Teams: Collaborates with groups like the Soft Robotics Lab at VUB, focusing on material design and actuator systems. Roels’ work addresses challenges in robotics safety, sustainability, and durability, positioning her as a leading researcher in soft robotics and self-healing materials.

• Soft Robotics
• Self-healing Materials
• Additive Manufacturing
• +3 more

Piet Claus is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, working within the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. He is affiliated with the Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics unit at UZ Leuven (Herestraat 49, bus 7003, 3000 Leuven) and is a member of the iSi Health - KU Leuven Institute for Physics-based Modeling for In Silico Health. Dr. Claus serves on multiple governance bodies including the Doctoral School Committee for Biomedical Sciences, Faculty Council of Medicine, Departmental Council for Cardiovascular Sciences, Department Board of Cardiovascular Sciences, and the Research Council (plenary composition). His ORCID identifier is 0000-0002-2013-639X. His research focuses on cardiac electrophysiology, arrhythmia mechanisms, cardiovascular imaging, and cardiac modeling. He combines experimental approaches with computational modeling to understand heart function and disease, with particular emphasis on arrhythmia mechanisms in the infarct edge zone, cardiac remodeling, and development of novel imaging and modeling techniques for cardiovascular assessment. His work frequently utilizes ovine models for translational research. Analysis of his recent publications (2024-2025) reveals consistent focus on arrhythmia mechanisms, cardiac imaging techniques, cardiovascular modeling, and translational cardiovascular research. His work spans multiple methodologies including experimental physiology, computational modeling, imaging analysis, and clinical studies, with strong emphasis on understanding the electrophysiological properties of the heart and developing improved diagnostic approaches. Dr. Claus has secured significant research funding for his work, serving as Principal Investigator (Promotor) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-promotor) on multiple projects including 'An optimized experimental data-driven investigation of arrhythmia mechanisms in the infarct edge zone,' 'Deep functional characterization of discrete regions leading to arrhythmias in the infarct rim zone,' and 'Bayesiaanse inversie van cardiale elektrogrammen voor patiëntspecifieke analyse (BICEPS).' He teaches several courses at KU Leuven including 'Hot Topics in Fundamental and Medical Aspects of Cardiovascular Biology,' 'Fundamental and Medical Aspects of Cardiovascular Biology,' 'Biofysica,' and various anatomy and physiology courses related to the cardiovascular system, demonstrating his commitment to education in cardiovascular sciences.

• Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Arrhythmia Mechanisms
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• +6 more

Jolien Gooijers is a Lecturer at the Department of Human Movement Sciences within the Faculty of Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at KU Leuven . Her research focuses on motor control, neuroplasticity, aging, and sports neuroscience, with a strong emphasis on sensorimotor adaptation, stroke rehabilitation, and brain injury mechanisms. Co-promotor of the Next Generation Prosthetics project (2025-2029) Promotor of ROBUST+ (2024-2028) and Witte stof projects (2021-2027) Her recent work explores: Age-related cerebellar resilience in motor tasks White matter microstructure in bimanual coordination Neurological consequences of repetitive head impacts in youth soccer Lesion network mapping for stroke outcome prediction She contributes to courses in motor learning, neurophysiology, and sports training at KU Leuven.

• Motor Control
• Neuroplasticity
• Aging
• +7 more

Prof. Bram Vanderborght is a Full Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), specializing in robotics and mechatronics. He holds a PhD in Applied Sciences and has led research in humanoid robotics, rehabilitation robotics, and variable impedance actuators. Currently coordinates EU projects like SHERO (self-healing soft robotics) and SMART (Marie Curie ITN). Active in over 97 projects and 676 publications. Education: Mechanical Engineering (VUB, 2003), PhD in Applied Sciences (2007). Postdoctoral research at Italian Institute of Technology (2007-2010), and research director at Universitatea Babes-Bolyai (2011-2016). Research Interests: Human-robot interaction, robot-assisted therapy for ASD children, soft robotics, and actuator technology. Key focus areas include adaptive compliance in robotics and rehabilitation systems. Recent Articles: Focus on reinforcement learning frameworks, multi-robot task scheduling, and sensor integration for soft robots. Highlights include energy-aware optimization and safety-critical control systems. Awards: Best Paper Awards (2006, 2008, 2012, 2020, 2021), ERC Starting Grant (SPEAR), and leadership in EU FET projects. Advising & Grants: Supervised over 40 research projects and doctoral theses. Current initiatives include SPINOFF (exoskeletons for workers) and the Sustainable Robotics Hub (2025-2029). Labs/Teams: Federated labs AI and Robotics. Collaborations span global institutions like AIST (Japan), JRL, and Springer Nature publications.

• Robotics
• Human-Robot Interaction
• Rehabilitation Robotics
• +5 more

Dr. Joost Brancart is a postdoctoral researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Materials and Chemistry department and the Physical Chemistry and Polymer Science (FYSC) research group. He leads the 'Self-Healing Materials' subgroup and collaborates closely with the Robotics & Multibody Mechanics (R&MM) group. Brancart’s research focuses on stimuli-responsive polymer networks for soft robotics, self-healing materials, and sustainable applications. He has coordinated EU-funded projects like SHERO and SMART, and his work has led to innovations in additive manufacturing, biodegradable plastics, and material-embedded intelligence. Education: PhD in 2017 (VUB), Master’s degree with Solvay Award. Awards include the TAWN Young Researcher Award (2014) and Best Poster Award (2024). Key projects involve developing smart materials for soft robots, including EU grants FWOTM1096 and FWOSBO49. He has conducted research stays at Empa (Switzerland) and plans one at PCCL (Austria). Research interests span dynamic covalent networks, self-healing polymers, and circular economy applications. Over 139 publications and 15 projects highlight his contributions to materials science and robotics. Supervised students include work on multi-material actuators, lignin-based networks, and carbon black composites. Key Projects: SHERO (FET Open), SMART (MSCA ITN), SUBLIME (SBO), PRODYN (FWO) Awards: Solvay Awards (Master/PhD), TAWN, and Best Poster (2024)

• Stimuli-Responsive Materials
• Self-Healing Polymers
• Dynamic Covalent Networks
• +4 more

Arn Mignon is a tenure track Lecturer at the Department of Materials Science , KU Leuven , affiliated with the Faculty of Industrial Engineering Sciences . He actively contributes to research through the Leuven Centre for Accessible Health Technology , Leuven.AM (additive manufacturing), and LPI - KU Leuven Plant Institute .

• Smart Polymer Biomaterials
• Biomedical Engineering
• Electrospinning
• +3 more

Francisco Molina Lopez is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences , KU Leuven , with affiliations to the Materials Science Division , LBI - KU Leuven Brain Institute , and Leuven.AM – Institute for Additive Manufacturing . His research focuses on printed, flexible/stretchable/soft hybrid organic-inorganic electronic materials for autonomous systems in wearables, soft robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) . His work spans: Thermoelectric Generators using printed electronics Hybrid Nanocomposites for stretchable sensors 3D Printing of energy materials Icephobic Coatings for sustainable energy Notable grants and projects : ERC Starting Grant (2020) for 3D ALIGN project FWO Fellowships for Tanmay Sinha and Viktor Naenen MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships for Altynay Kaidarova and Juhyung Park Recent publications highlight advancements in brush-printed PEDOT:PSS (ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2025), 3D-printed thermoelectrics (Advanced Science, 2025), and icephobic surface engineering (Materials Science & Engineering: R, 2025). His team collaborates with institutions in Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, and the USA. Students and postdocs in his group include: PhD Candidates: Hasan Emre Baysal, Bokai Zhang, Viktor Naenen Postdocs: Shubhradip Guchait, Juhyung Park Former PhDs: Yuan Tian (now patent attorney), Daiman Zhu (faculty at NCEPU) Labs and networks include the LBI Brain Institute and Leuven Institute for Additive Manufacturing . He actively participates in international conferences like MRS, ECME, and ICFPE.

• Flexible and Printed Electronics
• Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting
• Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials
• +5 more

Huaijin Chen is an Unpaid employee in the Applied Mechanics department and Federated labs AI and Robotics at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels) in Belgium. Their research focuses on the intersection of robotics, electrical impedance tomography, and soft materials development for advanced sensing applications. Dr. Chen's research interests span several key areas in robotics and sensing technology: Soft robotics and innovative actuator design Electrical impedance tomography for pressure distribution measurement Robot electric skins and tactile sensing systems Self-healing sensor technologies using Diels-Alder conductive composites Hardware-based reflex mechanisms for autonomous robotics Multimodal imaging methods for enhanced sensing capabilities Chen's recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on developing novel sensing and actuation technologies for robotics applications, particularly in creating hardware solutions that reduce computational requirements. Their work frequently appears in high-impact IEEE journals including IEEE Transactions on Robotics and IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, indicating significant contributions to the field of robotic sensing systems. Based at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, Belgium, Chen collaborates extensively with researchers including Wang, Z., Terryn, S., and Vanderborght, B. Their research bridges mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and artificial intelligence through the Federated labs AI and Robotics affiliation.

• Robotics
• Electrical Impedance Tomography
• Soft Robotics
• +4 more

Guy Van Assche is a Professor in Sustainable Materials Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, specializing in polymer science with expertise in thermal analysis, rheology, and self-healing materials development. His research focuses on structure-processing-property relations of polymers and related materials, with significant contributions to reversible covalent polymer networks and their applications. His research interests span multiple areas including the application of advanced thermal analysis techniques, experimental studies of chemical and physical processes kinetics, development of kinetic models for polymerization reactions, numerical modeling of heat transfer combined with chemical processes, and the development of (thermo)reversible polymer networks for self-healing and recyclable materials. His work bridges fundamental polymer science with practical applications in robotics and sustainable engineering. Prof. Van Assche has received numerous awards including the Czech Science Foundation fellowship (2009), IWT-Vlaanderen fellowship (2008), and a Solvay award for PhD thesis (2008). He has also won multiple poster awards, most recently a Best Poster Award in 2024. He actively supervises students and has served on numerous PhD committees. His leadership extends to external positions including Chairman of the Thermal Analysis Working Group Netherlands since 2019 and President of the Materials Committee at ICTAC (International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry) since 2016. His research is supported by multiple active projects including EU626: Soft, self-reacting smart materials for robots, FWOTM1230: EMSOR, and FOD171: Self-closing, durable vacuum cups.

• Polymer Science
• Thermal Analysis
• Self-Healing Materials
• +6 more