Chiara Daraio

Chiara Daraio is the G. Bradford Jones Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and an Investigator at the Heritage Medical Research Institute. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego, and degrees from the University of Ancona (Italy). Her research focuses on designing advanced materials with unique mechanical and sensing properties for applications in robotics, medical devices, and energy absorption. She has pioneered work on mechanical metamaterials, sustainable biomaterials, and wearable health-monitoring systems.

Education: B.S./M.S., University of Ancona, Italy (2001); M.S., UC San Diego (2003); Ph.D., UC San Diego (2006).

Research interests include materials science, condensed matter physics, and solid mechanics. Her group develops materials for acoustic imaging, thermal sensing, and bio-inspired systems. Recent work includes 3D polycatenated architected materials and biocomposite materials from microalgae.

Awards: PECASE, Sloan Fellowship, Brilliant 10, ONR Young Investigator Award, and others. Over 150 scientific publications and numerous patents highlight her contributions to metamaterials, nonlinear dynamics, and bio-inspired design.

Advising: Supervises a dynamic group of graduate students and postdocs, with alumni in academia and industry worldwide. Active in outreach, including STEM education and public lectures.

Labs: Facilities include 3D printing, high-speed imaging, and advanced mechanical testing equipment at Caltech's Gates-Thomas building.