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About

Joe Forth is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of soft matter physics, fluid dynamics, and bio-inspired robotics. His work centers on understanding and harnessing interfacial phenomena in liquid systems to create novel, adaptive materials and devices. Forth’s major contributions include the discovery that coacervate-encased droplets can be “hung” from liquid surfaces using surface tension, a finding with implications for microfluidics and encapsulation (33 citations). He also introduced “Aquabots”—ultrasoft, water-in-water robots that self-assemble via aqueous phase separation, enabling unprecedented navigation through confined spaces (28 citations). His investigation into the buckling spectra of nanoparticle surfactant assemblies has advanced control over thin-sheet mechanics, relevant to morphogenesis and reconfigurable materials (16 citations). Notably, Forth co-authored the “Roadmap for animate matter” (2025), a visionary guide for creating materials that are active, adaptive, and autonomous, bridging the gap between synthetic systems and living organisms. With a growing citation record and a focus on foundational principles, Forth is shaping the future of soft robotics and animate materials.