Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Jan Genzer is a pioneering researcher whose work spans soft materials, stretchable electronics, and sustainable agricultural systems. He is best known for his contributions to stretchable capacitive sensors, particularly through his highly cited 2017 paper (361 citations) on double helix liquid metal fibers for sensing torsion, strain, and touch—a breakthrough for soft robotics and conformal electronics. Genzer has also advanced the toughening of stretchable fibers via serial fracturing of metallic cores (71 citations), mimicking biological materials like collagen to create durable electronic skins. His innovative work on shrink-film grippers and reprogrammable self-folding thermoplastic sheets demonstrates his knack for translating fundamental materials science into practical, adaptive devices. More recently, Genzer has embraced transdisciplinary collaboration to tackle global challenges, co-authoring influential works on sustainable and resilient agricultural systems (14 citations). His research consistently bridges mechanics, materials chemistry, and application-driven design, making him a key figure in the development of next-generation soft technologies. With a career marked by high-impact publications and a commitment to solving real-world problems, Genzer inspires students and researchers to think across disciplines and from lab to field.