Russell W. Mailen

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About

Russell W. Mailen is a leading researcher in the mechanics of active and responsive materials, with a focus on bioinspired toughening, soft robotics, and self-folding structures. His most impactful contribution is the development of stretchable fibers that resist irreversible damage through serial fracturing of a metallic core—a mechanism inspired by biological materials like collagen and titin. This work, published in 2019 and cited 71 times, has significant implications for durable electronic skins and soft robotic actuators. Mailen also advanced soft robotic gripping by demonstrating how shrink films can grasp and manipulate delicate objects, offering a simpler, more repeatable alternative to traditional hydrogel or elastomer grippers. More recently, his research on reprogrammable self-folding thermoplastic sheets, which use elastic filaments to mimic human joint movement, opens new possibilities for deployable structures, packaging, and transformative toys. With a career marked by innovative, application-driven work, Mailen continues to bridge fundamental mechanics and practical device design, making him a key figure in the development of next-generation smart materials.