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About

Heeseok Kang is pioneering the frontier of soft, transient bioelectronics—materials that are not only stretchable and flexible but also biodegradable, dissolving harmlessly after use. His most impactful work, an ultra-stretchable and biodegradable elastomer (139 citations), addresses a critical challenge in wearable and implantable devices: creating rubber-like materials that match the mechanical performance of conventional elastomers while being environmentally and biologically benign. This breakthrough enables a new class of "transient electronics" that can safely degrade inside the body or in the environment, eliminating the need for surgical removal. Kang further demonstrates the power of this platform with a shape-programmable elastomer used in a bioresorbable, wireless nerve stimulator (24 citations), and an electric eel-inspired soft electrolyte for solid-state power systems (18 citations), drawing on nature to create safe, flexible energy storage. Most recently, his work on a wireless, multifunctional, system-integrated programmable soft robot (14 citations) shows how these materials can be combined into autonomous, reconfigurable platforms for advanced biomedical and soft robotics applications. Through this body of work, Kang is establishing the material and design principles for a future where electronics are soft, safe, and sustainable.