Girish Krishnan

Girish Krishnan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science & Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, part of the Grainger College of Engineering. His research focuses on soft robotics, compliant mechanisms, and wearable assistive devices. He holds a BEng from R. V. College of Engineering, an MSc from the Indian Institute of Science, and a PhD from the University of Michigan. His work spans design, analysis, and application of fiber-reinforced actuators, pneumatic systems, and adaptive structures.

Education:

• BEng in Mechanical Engineering, R. V. College of Engineering (2004)
• MSc in Engineering, Indian Institute of Science (2006)
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan (2011)

Research Interests: His studies include MEMS sensors, soft robotic actuators, and wearable exoskeletons. He explores architectures inspired by biological systems to enhance actuator performance and stiffness modulation. Recent work focuses on pneumatic muscle arrangements and self-contacting manipulators.

Publications: Over 20+ peer-reviewed articles in journals like Smart Materials and Structures, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, and conference proceedings of ICRA and IEEE Robotics. His research emphasizes practical applications in industrial and biomedical robotics.

Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2015), Freudenstein Young Investigator Award (2017), and multiple teaching accolades including the 2016 Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising. His lab, the Monolithic Systems Lab, pioneers innovative designs in compliant mechanisms and soft systems.

Grants & Advising: Led projects funded by NSF and industry, advising senior design teams on robotic systems. Contributions include developing curricula integrating project-based learning with departmental research.