Christine Selhuber‐Unkel

Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Kiel, Heidelberg University

Papers

Total Citations

230

H-Index

About

Christine Selhuber‐Unkel is a pioneering figure in bioinspired materials and soft robotics, whose work bridges the gap between living systems and synthetic engineering. Her research centers on developing "living materials" that can autonomously sense, adapt, and heal—key properties that conventional robots lack. In her highly cited 2019 paper (137 citations), she argued that living beings offer an unmatched blueprint for soft robotics, inspiring a new generation of autonomous, self-healing machines. Selhuber‐Unkel has also made major contributions to conductive hydrogels, microengineering hollow graphene tube systems to create 3D composites with extremely low filler concentrations (0.16 vol%), achieving exceptional conductivity akin to an artificial nervous system (54 citations). Her work on thermoresponsive hydrogels (31 citations) addresses the slow response rates of traditional pNIPAM actuators by introducing interconnected microchannels for improved actuation. With a recent comprehensive review on bioinspired materials (2024), she continues to shape the field. Her impact is evident in over 230 total citations, and she is recognized for advancing biomimetic technologies from gecko-inspired adhesives to shark-skin-inspired surfaces, making her a leading voice in the future of adaptive, life-like materials.