Ingrid Graz

Ingrid Graz serves as Associate Professor at Johannes Kepler University Linz, holding dual appointments in the Department of Applied Experimental Biophysics and Department of STEM Education within the Faculty of Engineering & Natural Sciences. Her research bridges biomimetic materials science and biomedical engineering, focusing on silicone-based elastomers for soft robotics and medical applications.

Professor Graz's work centers on decoding nature-inspired material behaviors—particularly stiffness gradients, thermal responsiveness, and energy dissipation in silicone systems. She develops interface-free composites and active foams that enable breakthroughs in stretchable electronics and medical devices, merging experimental physics with translational engineering to solve real-world challenges in wearable robotics and tissue interfaces.

Her 2021-2025 publications reveal a strategic pivot toward clinical applications, evolving from fundamental material characterization (e.g., ball-drop testing of dissipative properties) to medical device prototyping (e.g., silicon foam mats). This trajectory shows increasing emphasis on temperature-triggered actuation and solvent-free elastomer platforms, with strong representation in ACS journals and robotics publications.

Professor Graz received the Kepler Award for Knowledge Transfer in 2025, recognizing exceptional public engagement. Her science communication includes:

• Public lectures on soap bubbles and physics ('Seifenblasen und ihre Physik')
• Nature-inspired robotics demonstrations ('Weiche Roboter – Inspiriert von der Natur')
• Keynotes on imperfection in electronic materials ('SK(IN)SPIRED ELECTRONICS')

She currently leads four major funded projects:

• EU-funded SOFT actuators initiative (2022-2026) for wearable robotics
• Christian Doppler Laboratory (2020-2027) on vibration isolation
• Biomimicry Center for Biomedical Engineering (2024-2027)
• PsyPol project (2025-2027) on climate communication

These provide robust infrastructure for student training and industry collaboration.

Professor Graz directs the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Soft Structures, which serves as her primary research nexus. The lab cultivates an interdisciplinary environment where materials scientists, physicists, and engineers collaborate on medical-grade soft robotics. Its industry partnerships accelerate technology transfer, while public outreach components fulfill her STEM Education mandate through hands-on demonstrations and educational scenario development.