We are an interdisciplinary group that aims to solve hard challenges in soft robotics for real world applications.
Prof. Mihai “Mishu” Duduta
Principal Investigator
PhD 2019 – Mechanical Engineering – Harvard University
MS 2015 – Mechanical Engineering – Harvard University
BS 2010 – Materials Science and Engineering – MIT
Current Members
Ang “Leo” Li
PhD Candidate
Visiting Student from the University of Toronto
B.S. 2021 – Electrical Engineering – University of Toronto
Alexander White
PhD Candidate
B.S. 2022 – Electrical and Mechanical Engineering – University of Edinburgh
Winner of a NASA CT Space Consortium Graduate Fellowship – Fall ’24
Winner of a GE Fellowship Next Generation Scholar – 2023-2024
Dr. Alex Yin
Postdoctoral Fellow
B.S. – Mechanical Engineering – Rensselaer Polytechnic University
M.S. – Mechanical Engineering – Boston University
PhD 2024 – Ocean Engineering – University of Rhode Island (with Prof. Brennan Phillips)
Edward “Eddie” Pomianek
PhD Candidate
B.S. 2024 – Mechanical Engineering – University of Michigan
Winner of a NASA CT Space Consortium Graduate Fellowship – Spring ’25
Winner of Pratt & Whitney IASE Graduate Fellowship – Fall ’25
Eva Crowley
PhD Candidate
B.S. 2024 – Physics – Union College
Winner of a GE Fellowship – ’24-’25
Winner of Pratt & Whitney IASE Graduate Fellowship – Fall ’25
Anatol Gogoj
PhD Candidate – co-advised with Prof. Farhad Imani
B.S. 2024 – Mechanical Engineering – University of Connecticut
Winner of NASA CT Space Consortium Graduate Fellowship – Spring ’25
Victor Jimenez-Santiago
Master’s Student
Winner of a NASA CT Space Consortium Graduate Fellowship – Spring ’25
Van Remenar
Master’s Student
B.S. 2025 – Mechanical Engineering – University of Connecticut
Matthew “Matt” Francoeur
Undergraduate Student
Materials Science and Engineering
Charles “Charlie” Dilorenzo
Undergraduate Student
Mechanical Engineering
Past Lab Members
Sahib Sandhu
Master’s Student
B.S. 2024 – Mechanical Engineering – University of Connecticut
Winner of a NASA CT Space Consortium Graduate Fellowship – Fall ’24
Liam Wilson
Master’s Student
B.S. 2024 – Mechanical Engineering – University of Connecticut
Hubert Sliwka
Master’s Student
B.S. 2024 – Mechanical Engineering – University of Connecticut
Tirth Thakar
Master’s Student
B.E. (Hons) 2021 – Engineering Science – University of Auckland
B.Com 2021 – Finance and Economics – University of Auckland
Winner of Pratt & Whitney IASE Graduate Fellowship – ’24-’25
Estefany Toribio-Castillo
Master’s Student
B.S. 2024 – Mechanical Engineering – University of Connecticut
Dominic Flores
Master’s Student
B.S. 2023 – Mechanical Engineering – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Winner of a NASA CT Space Consortium Graduate Fellowship – Fall ’24