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About

Thomas J. Wallin is a pioneering materials scientist and engineer whose research sits at the dynamic intersection of additive manufacturing, soft robotics, and advanced functional materials. Best known for his highly influential 2018 review "3D Printing of Soft Robotic Systems," which has amassed nearly 920 citations, Wallin has fundamentally shaped how researchers and engineers approach the fabrication of compliant, flexible machines. His work addresses one of the field's central challenges: developing printable materials with the mechanical sophistication required for real-world applications. Wallin's contributions span several innovative directions. He has engineered highly elastic, transparent, and conductive ionic hydrogels for complex 3D-printed architectures, demonstrated self-healing soft robots through click chemistry stereolithography, and developed silicone double networks capable of exceptional toughness. His more recent investigations into photocurable elastomeric foams and bioinspired perspiring hydrogel actuators reflect a commitment to expanding the functional palette of soft devices for wearables and human-machine interfaces. With a cumulative citation record exceeding 1,500 across his most notable works, Wallin's research has had outsized influence on the soft robotics and smart materials communities, inspiring a new generation of designers to rethink what machines can be made of — and what they can do.