Catherine Poirier
Papers
1
Total Citations
2
H-Index
1
About
Catherine Poirier is a leading researcher in electroactive polymers (EAPs) and their application to soft robotics, particularly for extreme environments. Her most notable contribution is the development of Ras Labs Synthetic Muscle™—EAPs that contract and expand at low voltages, mimicking natural muscle. Poirier’s work has been validated through a groundbreaking experiment on the International Space Station (ISS), where her materials were tested for resistance to ionizing radiation, extreme temperatures, and high pressure. This research, published in 2017, demonstrated the viability of synthetic muscle for deep space travel, where it could assist astronauts or replace humans in hazardous tasks. While her citation count is modest (2 citations for this key paper), her impact is significant in the niche field of radiation-hardened soft actuators. Poirier’s achievements include leading the Ras Labs-CASIS-ISS National Lab experiment, which successfully returned to Earth with promising data. Her work bridges materials science and space exploration, offering a path toward safer, more resilient robotic systems for extraterrestrial and terrestrial applications.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1