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About

H. Kellay is a leading experimental physicist whose work lies at the intersection of active matter, soft condensed matter, and collective behavior. His research focuses on understanding how simple, individual units—from self-propelled robots to vibrating rods—can self-organize into complex, functional superstructures. Kellay’s most influential contribution is demonstrating that minimal ingredients, such as well-defined velocity and orientation couplings, are sufficient to generate intricate collective dynamics, as shown in his highly cited 2018 study on inertial self-propelled robots (167 citations). He has also pioneered the concept of using flexible scaffolds to transform swarms of mindless robots into mobile, deformable superstructures capable of navigating confined spaces—a breakthrough with implications for soft robotics (77 citations). His work on probing active particle gases through vibrating membranes (2022) and his recent roadmap for "animate matter" (2025) further underscore his role in shaping the future of bio-inspired, adaptive materials. With over 260 citations across his top papers, Kellay’s research continues to inspire new approaches to designing autonomous, life-like systems from the bottom up.