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About

Brittany Newell is a researcher at Purdue University whose work sits at the dynamic intersection of soft robotics, smart materials, and advanced manufacturing. Her research focuses on developing novel actuators and sensors through additive manufacturing techniques, with a particular emphasis on pneumatic soft actuators, electroactive polymers (EAPs), and flexible sensing systems. Her 2021 characterization study of 3D printed pneumatic soft actuators has garnered 22 citations, establishing her as a credible voice in the soft robotics community, while her 2025 review of EAPs in sensing and actuation applications has already attracted 17 citations — a testament to its broad relevance across emerging smart material systems. Newell has also demonstrated a commitment to engineering education, contributing to the development of Purdue's Smart Learning Factory, a cyber-physical environment designed to prepare students for Industry 4.0 — work that has earned 11 citations and highlights her investment in experiential learning. Her more recent projects explore multifunctional 3D printing for strain gauges, flexible tactile sensors for rehabilitation, and capacitance-sensing grippers, reflecting a cohesive vision: bringing intelligent, adaptive materials out of the laboratory and into real-world medical, robotic, and industrial applications.