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About

Howon Lee is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and soft robotics, whose work is fundamentally reshaping how we design and fabricate intelligent, responsive materials. His core research areas span multi-material additive manufacturing, 4D printing, and the development of bio-inspired soft actuators. Lee’s major contributions include the creation of a 3D-printed electroactive hydrogel that exhibits large, electrically-induced deformation—a breakthrough for soft robotic manipulation and artificial muscle, which has garnered 357 citations. He has also advanced the field through his work on rapid multi-material 3D printing using projection micro-stereolithography with dynamic fluidic control (215 citations), enabling unprecedented complexity in printed structures. His comprehensive review on multi-material additive manufacturing (249 citations) has become a key reference in the field. Most recently, Lee has pushed boundaries with bio-inspired artificial muscle-tendon complexes using liquid crystal elastomers, integrating both actuation and proprioceptive sensing for bidirectional signaling. Through his innovative fusion of materials science and fabrication technology, Lee is creating the foundational building blocks for the next generation of soft, adaptive, and intelligent machines.