We study the interplay between geometry and function, at different scales, applied to a variety of mechanical systems including soft robots, metamaterials, deployable structures, etc. Through innovative designs, we leverage material intelligence and structural superiorty to create novel and functional robots and materials, addressing the grand challenges in health and sustainability.

We are constantly looking for enthusiastic postdocs, PhD students, and master students with background in engineering (mechanical, civil, aerospace, electrical, etc), mechanics, material science, condensed matter physics, computer science, or applied mathematics. Undergraduate students are also welcome to get experiences on research.

Prof. Liu delivered an online seminar for Peking University Third Hospital, Cardiology Department on June 19, 2022.

Prof. Liu delivered an online seminar for Southeastern University, School of Civil Engineering on July 5, 2022.

Prof. Liu delivered a seminar for Tsinghua University, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology on July 27, 2022.

Prof. Liu delivered an online seminar for CAS Shenyang Institute of Automation on August 6, 2022.

Prof. Liu and co-authors Prof. Glaucio Paulino (Princeton University) and Prof. Tomohiro Tachi (University of Tokyo) have been awarded the 2022 ASME Melville Medal for their paper titled “Bio-Inspired Origami Metamaterials With Metastable Phases Through Mechanical Phase Transitions". The ASME Melville Medal was established in 1914 in honor of George Wallace Melville, Honorary Member and eighteenth president of ASME. It is awarded for the best original technical paper published in all ASME transactions in the past two years.