Alexandra Thoma

Alexandra Thoma is a current researcher at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the SMAL laboratory. Her work focuses on developing bio-inspired microstructured hydrogels with tunable mechanical properties across multiple length scales.

Research Interests:

• Designing hierarchical microstructures in soft materials
• Exploiting osmotic pressure for energy-efficient actuation
• 3D printable granular hydrogels
• Nanoscale composition control via phase separation
• Ionically reinforced domains in synthetic materials
• Marine biology-inspired material design

Scientific Contributions: Her research demonstrates unprecedented control over hydrogel composition from nanometers to millimeters, enabling actuators that mimic plant turgor effects and marine mussel mechanics. Key innovations include thermo-responsive granular hydrogels and localized ionic reinforcement techniques that increase stiffness up to 18-fold.