Jennifer M. Boothby

The University of Texas at Dallas, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Papers

Total Citations

569

H-Index

About

Jennifer M. Boothby is a leading researcher in the field of stimuli-responsive materials, with a primary focus on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and their applications in soft robotics and biomedical devices. Her pioneering work on four-dimensional (4D) printing of LCEs, published in 2017 and cited over 490 times, introduced a method to create three-dimensional structures capable of reversible shape changes, opening new possibilities for soft robotics, implantable medical devices, and consumer products. Boothby further advanced the field by developing an untethered soft robot powered by LCE actuators, demonstrating wireless control and significant force generation—a key step toward practical, autonomous soft robots. Her research also extends to biomaterials, where she has used lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals to template anisotropic, porous hydrogels, enabling precise control over microstructure for cell-material interactions and stimuli-responsive applications. With over 570 total citations, Boothby’s work is highly influential, bridging materials science, engineering, and biology. Her achievements include being recognized as a rising star in soft robotics and contributing to foundational advances in 4D printing and untethered actuation.