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About

Jue Deng is a leading researcher in the field of bioinspired soft robotics and smart materials, with a focus on developing programmable actuators and biomedical devices. Her major contributions include pioneering work on photothermal actuators based on pre-aligned nanostructures, achieving complex tunable mechanical actuations such as phototropic and apheliotropic bending—a breakthrough cited over 280 times. She has also advanced biomimetic fiber actuators from carbon nanotubes, enabling hierarchical helical designs that mimic natural movements. In biomedical engineering, Deng introduced the SmartSleeve, a sutureless, soft robotic epicardial device that integrates ECG sensing with switchable on-off drug delivery, offering a novel approach to targeted cardiac therapy. Her work on swimming fiber robots further demonstrates her ability to create programmable actuating systems for dynamic environments. With over 370 total citations across her key papers, Deng’s research bridges materials science, robotics, and medicine, providing foundational insights for adaptive, stimulus-responsive systems. Her innovative strategies for pre-programmed alignment and soft robotic control are shaping next-generation applications in drug delivery, soft robotics, and smart textiles.