Liran Ma

State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University

Papers

Total Citations

153

H-Index

About

Dr. Liran Ma is a leading researcher in bio-inspired adhesion and soft robotics, whose work bridges fundamental mechanics and practical engineering. Her primary research areas include gecko-inspired dry adhesives, reversible strong adhesion systems, and bioinspired underwater mechanisms. Dr. Ma’s most impactful contribution is the development of robust, scalable reversible adhesives that achieve high adhesion strength through gecko-inspired composite design—a breakthrough with 49 citations that promises transformative applications in precision manufacturing and flexible electronics. Her comprehensive 2019 review on gecko-inspired dry adhesive surfaces (93 citations) has become a foundational resource, synthesizing fabrication techniques and applications for controllable handling. More recently, her innovative work on a mantis shrimp-inspired underwater striking device (8 citations) demonstrates her expanding influence into aquatic robotics, while her 2025 study on spine engagement on rough surfaces (3 citations) advances understanding of frictional adhesion in unstructured environments. Dr. Ma’s research consistently achieves high citation impact, with her top papers collectively cited over 150 times, reflecting her role in advancing both the theory and application of bioinspired adhesion. Her work is essential reading for students and researchers interested in biomimetics, surface science, and next-generation robotic grippers.