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About

Joshua Fern is a leading researcher at the intersection of DNA nanotechnology and soft robotics, pioneering the use of biochemical instructions to program shape-changing materials. His primary research areas include DNA strand-displacement reactions, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, and autonomous material systems. Fern’s major contributions center on developing “DNA polymerization motor gels”—soft materials that swell, bend, or transform in response to specific DNA sequence instructions, effectively creating gel-based automata that can execute multi-step shape changes without external wires or devices. His seminal 2018 paper on modular DNA strand-displacement controllers for directing material expansion has garnered over 100 citations, establishing a foundational framework for the field. More recently, his 2024 work on programming gel automata shapes using DNA instructions demonstrates how molecular signals can guide complex, programmable transformations, with implications for soft robotics, targeted drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Fern’s innovative approach—treating DNA as both structural material and information carrier—positions him at the forefront of creating autonomous, reconfigurable soft devices that respond intelligently to their environment.