Welcome to Jin Research Lab!
Our group explore the design of mechanical metamaterials and soft robots that harness geometry, nonlinearity, and metastability to achieve programmable deformation, in-material memory, embodied computing and learning. By merging theory, simulation, and experiments, we create materials that capable of autonomous adaptation, mechanical computation, and interactive behavior. Our work pushes the boundaries of how matter can be programmed to move, sense, and respond, enabling the next generation of intelligent and multifunctional systems.
NEWS
- Oct. 24, 2025 – Our recent study has been accepted by Physical Review Letters, where we demonstrate that internal dynamics can modify, promote, and direct avalanche behavior in multistable systems. These phenomena provide a new strategy for controlling the deformation pathways in metamaterials and open a new path towards mechanical counting and computing. Read more.
- June 11, 2025 – Our collaborative work has been published in Nature, presenting a tissue-level–soft, submicrometre-thick mesh microelectrode array that integrates into the embryonic neural plate. This technology enables long-term, stable mapping of how single-neuron activity and population dynamics emerge and evolve during brain development. Read more.
- May 1, 2025 – Our invited Perspective article has been published in Science, highlighting the work of Dr. Zhang et al. on uncovering the underlying mechanics of cusp formation in roses. Read more.
Intelligent Materials and Structures Lab 