Hritwick Banerjee

Hritwick Banerjee is a Doctoral Assistant and Doctoral Student in the Doctoral Program in Materials Science and Engineering at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He is affiliated with the Laboratory of Photonic Materials and Fibre Devices (FIMAP), part of the Institute of Materials (IMX) within the School of Engineering (STI). His research focuses on the intersection of soft functional materials, advanced manufacturing, machine intelligence, and solid mechanics, with applications in biotechnology and medical engineering.

His work emphasizes designing soft materials with unique mechanical properties such as extreme toughness, sensitivity to stimuli, programmability, and biocompatibility to bridge human-machine interfaces. Key projects include developing hydrogel-based actuators, magnetic fibers for medical robotics, and smart textiles for rehabilitation and minimally invasive surgery. He also investigates material synthesis techniques like thermal drawing for multi-material fibers.

Recent publications highlight advancements in drug delivery systems using shape-memory polymers, soft robotic fish with integrated sensing, and tactile grippers inspired by origami. His research bridges fundamental material science with translational biomedical applications, aiming to create innovative healthcare technologies and positively impact human lives through robotics and soft materials innovation.

He is actively involved in the FIMAP lab, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to material design and robotics. His contributions span from foundational research to industrial applications, emphasizing the practical implementation of soft materials in real-world scenarios.