Alona Shagan Shomron
Postdoctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Robotic Materials

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany, in Christoph Keplinger's department. I completed my PhD at the Faculty of Biotechnology Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, in Boaz Mizrahi's lab. I finished my BSc at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, also at the Technion.

My research lies at the intersection of fundamental materials science and soft robotics. I focus on understanding the material properties that influence the performance of high-performance dielectrics for the fabrication of artificial muscles. Another key aspect of my work involves developing biodegradable materials that meet the electrical and mechanical requirements of artificial muscles while remaining soft, flexible, and strong. Additionally, I design and fabricate soft robotic applications, such as haptic feedback devices and assistive tools for tremor suppression. This interdisciplinary research bridges the gap between fundamental materials science and the complete design, fabrication, and mechanical engineering of functional systems.