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About

Christine Hartzell is a leading researcher at the intersection of soft robotics, magnetorheological (MR) fluid systems, and space exploration technologies. Her work focuses on developing adaptive, low-power robotic end effectors and grippers that leverage the unique properties of MR fluids—materials that can rapidly switch between liquid and solid states under magnetic control. Hartzell’s major contributions include the invention of a low-power, jamming MR valve using electropermanent magnets, enabling distributed control in soft robots without the high energy demands of traditional electromagnets (37 citations). She has also pioneered MR fluid-based robotic claws and end effectors for both terrestrial and spacecraft applications, demonstrating versatile grasping of delicate objects—from food items to space debris. Notably, Hartzell contributed to NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) Formulation Assessment and Support Team (FAST), providing critical input for mission requirements (17 citations). Her work has garnered over 100 total citations, with her 2020 valve paper and 2019 end effector study being the most influential. By combining materials science, control systems, and space robotics, Hartzell is advancing the next generation of compliant, energy-efficient manipulators for challenging environments.