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About

Hayden E. Fowler is a materials scientist whose research sits at the intersection of soft matter, stimuli-responsive materials, and advanced manufacturing. Fowler has emerged as a significant contributor to the field of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), investigating their synthesis, alignment, and actuation mechanisms to unlock their potential in soft robotics and smart material systems. His most-cited work, "Synthesis and alignment of liquid crystalline elastomers" (2021, 569 citations), has become a foundational reference in the field, while his complementary study on electrically enhanced directional actuation (144 citations) demonstrates a practical pathway toward electrically controlled, dexterous robotic manipulation. Fowler has also pioneered fabrication innovations, including microstructured photopolymerization of LCEs in oxygen-rich environments, enabling spatial control of deformation with remarkable energy output. More recently, his work has expanded into additive manufacturing, developing the CRAFT process for crystallinity regulation in thermoplastic printing and advancing thiol-ene photopolymerization strategies for improved electromechanical LCE performance. Collectively, his contributions span fundamental polymer chemistry to application-driven engineering, establishing him as a versatile and impactful voice in next-generation functional materials research.