Dominic Scalise

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Dominic Scalise is pioneering the frontier of autonomous, reconfigurable soft matter, merging robotics, materials science, and synthetic biology. His central research focus is on programming physical materials to change shape and state using molecular instructions, effectively creating "gel automata" that operate without wires or external power. In his landmark 2024 work, *Programming gel automata shapes using DNA instructions*, Scalise demonstrated a transformative capability: directing matter to shift between numerous physical forms using only DNA sequences as control signals. This breakthrough, already garnering 8 citations, addresses a grand challenge in robotics and materials design. His earlier foundational study, *Shape-shifting microgel automata controlled by DNA sequence instructions* (2022), established the core principles for using information-bearing molecules to orchestrate multi-step shape changes in soft devices. By harnessing biomolecules to localize transitions at specific sites, Scalise’s work opens the door to creating truly autonomous, reconfigurable systems that mimic the adaptive shape transformations seen in living organisms. His research stands at the intersection of DNA nanotechnology and soft robotics, promising a future where materials can be programmed to adapt, reconfigure, and respond intelligently to their environment.