Deepa Sritharan

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About

Deepa Sritharan is a pioneer in the development of soft robotic actuators, with a core focus on electroosmotic (EO) pumping and paper-based microfluidics. Her research bridges the gap between micro-scale fluid dynamics and meso-scale soft robotics, creating novel, voltage-controlled hydraulic systems. Her most cited work, "Fabrication of a Miniature Paper-Based Electroosmotic Actuator" (2016, 12 citations), introduced a groundbreaking benchtop lamination process to embed flexible carbon electrodes within elastomeric structures, enabling a compact, paper-based actuator that leverages electroosmotic flow for precise motion. This innovation offers a low-cost, accessible alternative to traditional microfabrication. In her earlier study, "Stable electroosmotically driven actuators" (2013, 5 citations), Sritharan tackled two critical challenges: scaling EO pumping to meso-scale devices and ensuring long-term operational stability—key hurdles for real-world soft robotics applications. By addressing these stability and scalability issues, her work lays the foundation for more reliable, bio-inspired actuators. Sritharan’s contributions are particularly notable for their potential in creating flexible, lightweight robotic systems, and her research continues to inspire advances in microfluidics and soft matter engineering.