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About

Qian Deng is a materials scientist and applied mechanician whose research bridges soft matter physics, smart materials, and small-scale robotics. With a strong foundation in electromechanics and magnetics, Deng has made significant contributions to understanding and engineering functional soft materials that respond to external stimuli in programmable, controlled ways. Among Deng's most recognized contributions is pioneering work on magnetic soft robots, including 3D-printed hydrogel-based arthropod millirobots capable of untethered, fast deformation for biomedical applications, which has garnered 94 citations since 2021. Earlier foundational work on soft electrets — nonpiezoelectric materials engineered to mimic piezoelectric behavior through embedded charges — demonstrated remarkable size effects and giant electromechanical coupling, earning 69 citations since 2014 and influencing the design of soft actuators and stretchable electronics. More recently, Deng has developed theoretical frameworks and experimental demonstrations of magnetoelectricity in hard magnetic soft materials, opening new pathways for multiferroic-like behavior without traditional ceramic constraints. Additional forays into thermoelectric materials highlight a broad interdisciplinary reach. Collectively, Deng's body of work represents a compelling fusion of mechanics, materials science, and emerging robotics technologies.