Isabella Fiorello

Dr. Isabella Fiorello is a Junior Research Group Leader at the Cluster of Excellence livMatS, University of Freiburg, leading the Biohybrid Machines group. Her research focuses on developing bioinspired and biohybrid materials for applications in soft robotics, precision agriculture, and environmental conservation. She holds affiliations with the Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT). Her expertise includes plant biomechanics, microfabrication, two-photon lithography, and sustainable material design.

Fiorello's work bridges plant morphology with advanced manufacturing techniques, creating miniature machines inspired by natural mechanisms. Key projects include the μEVOLUTION initiative, exploring microfabricated hybrid machines, and the Hybrid Plant project, developing living multifunctional materials. She supervises doctoral researcher Yuanquan Liu and collaborates on interdisciplinary projects funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Her research emphasizes practical applications such as self-dispersing machines for reforestation, spider-leg-inspired soft exoskeletons, and plant-inspired adhesives. Fiorello actively engages in academic outreach through events like livMatS colloquia and publishes in top journals like Advanced Materials and Advanced Functional Materials.

Fiorello's lab prioritizes technological transfer, patenting innovations like seed-like probes and soluble hook-shaped micro-elements. She advocates for sustainable robotics and environmental stewardship, reflecting her commitment to both scientific rigor and real-world impact.