Corentin Coulais

Dr. Corentin Coulais is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Science. He leads the Machine Materials Laboratory, focusing on cutting-edge research at the intersection of physics, materials science, and engineering. His work explores the fundamental mechanics of structured materials and their applications in robotics, sensing, and programmable matter.

Dr. Coulais's research interests center on mechanical metamaterials, active matter, and topological materials. His laboratory investigates how to design materials with unprecedented properties by leveraging mechanical instabilities, nonlinearity, and topology. His work spans from fundamental theoretical concepts to practical applications in soft robotics, shape-morphing structures, and energy absorption systems. The research combines experimental approaches with computational modeling and increasingly incorporates machine learning techniques for design optimization.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward increasingly sophisticated control of material behavior through topological principles, active components, and learning algorithms. His work has evolved from basic mechanical metamaterials to systems incorporating non-reciprocity, active matter principles, and machine learning for design. The research spans fundamental physics of mechanical systems to practical applications in robotics and programmable matter.

Dr. Coulais has established the Machine Materials Laboratory as a leading center for mechanical metamaterials research. His team develops innovative experimental setups and theoretical frameworks to explore the rich behavior of structured materials. The laboratory maintains strong connections with other research groups internationally and collaborates across disciplines including physics, engineering, and computer science.