Caterina Lamuta

Caterina Lamuta is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Iowa, with an additional appointment as Associate Faculty Research Engineer at IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering. Her research focuses on smart materials, bio-inspired systems, and soft robotics, particularly artificial muscles and adaptive materials. She leads the Smart Multifunctional Material Systems Lab and holds affiliations with the Materials Research Society (MRS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Education

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy (2017)
• MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy (2013)
• BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy (2011)

Research Interests
Her work spans artificial muscles for soft robotics, bio-inspired adaptive materials (e.g., octopus-like systems), geopolymer memristors, and multiscale mechanical characterization of materials. Recent projects include underwater soft robotics, fouling-release smart skins, and TCAM-based actuators for biomedical applications.

Publications
Her articles emphasize advanced materials and robotics, with trends in bio-inspired design, actuator modeling, and interdisciplinary applications (e.g., space robotics, neuromorphic systems). Key themes include TCAMs, surface engineering, and low-cost memristors.

Labs & Teams
She directs the Smart Multifunctional Material Systems Lab, focusing on experimental and computational studies of smart materials. Collaborations span mechanical engineering, materials science, and robotics.