Ellen Roels

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.