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Xiaoyue Ni

Assistant Professor of the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Overview


The Ni group aims to realize human-oriented materials intelligence through the combination of soft electronics and digital metamaterials—the materials can sense human signals, transform and adapt their functional properties according to human actions or status. The technical approach embraces epidermal electronics for advanced sensing of body mechanics, and micro/nanomechanics for closed-loop programmable matter. Our research focuses on creating digital-physical interfaces for dynamic control over materials properties via a full spectrum of mechanical and acoustic processes.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor of the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science · 2020 - Present Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering
Assistant Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics · 2020 - Present Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Basic Science Departments
Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering · 2024 - Present Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering

In the News


Published March 19, 2025
Materials Morph for Easier Health Monitoring
Published September 30, 2024
Nursing, Pratt Collaborate to Tackle Health Challenges
Published July 27, 2023
Wearable Imaging Tool Would Make It Easier to Diagnose Neurological Issues

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Recent Publications


Dynamics of plosive consonants via imaging, computations, and soft electronics.

Journal Article Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · November 2022 A quantitative understanding of the coupled dynamics of flow and particles in aerosol and droplet transmission associated with speech remains elusive. Here, we summarize an effort that integrates insights into flow-particle dynamics induced by the producti ... Full text Cite

A dynamically reprogrammable surface with self-evolving shape morphing.

Journal Article Nature · September 2022 Featured Publication Dynamic shape-morphing soft materials systems are ubiquitous in living organisms; they are also of rapidly increasing relevance to emerging technologies in soft machines1-3, flexible electronics4,5 and smart medicines6. Sof ... Full text Cite

Soft shape-programmable surfaces by fast electromagnetic actuation of liquid metal networks.

Journal Article Nature communications · September 2022 Low modulus materials that can shape-morph into different three-dimensional (3D) configurations in response to external stimuli have wide-ranging applications in flexible/stretchable electronics, surgical instruments, soft machines and soft robotics. This ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Developing a 2-in-1 Wearable On-Demand Ultrasound Imaging & Stimulation System for Treating Post-Stroke Motor Impairment

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by American Heart Association · 2025 - 2028

Enabling Sentient Materials

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory · 2025 - 2027

Wearable elastography for ambulant monitoring of tissue mechanics

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering · 2023 - 2026

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Education, Training & Certifications


California Institute of Technology · 2018 Ph.D.

External Links


Ni Lab