The Smart Materials and Robotics Laboratory is an interdisciplinary research lab within the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We are creating new soft multifunctional materials that are safe for human interaction and exhibit unique combinations of electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. These efforts lie in the emerging fields of wearable computing, soft robotics, and robotic materials.


  • Wearable Computing
    Electronic skin for gesture monitoring

  • Robotics
    Soft robotic quadruped

  • Advanced Material Development
    Robust soft-matter electronics
  • RECENT NEWS

    2023-

    May-
    Prof. Markvicka gave an invited talk at the 2023 Orthotic & Prosthetic Innovative Technologies Conference (OPTech).
    April-
    Our research receives support from a local Nebraska business with matching support from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
    April-
    Prof. Markvicka gave an invited seminar at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the Biomechanics Department.
    April-
    Prof. Markvicka gave an invited talk at 2023 National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) fellows conference.
    April-
    Patrick McManigal and Evan Hailey presented a poster at 2023 National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) fellows conference.
    April-
    Prof. Markvicka gave an invited seminar at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the Center for Brain, Biology & Behavior.
    April-
    Prof. Markvicka gave an talk at the 2023 Nebraska Academy of Sciences (NAS) Annual Meeting.
    April-
    Ethan Krings presents at the ASME Design of Medical Devices Conference on a soft and conformal matching layer for ultrasound patches. This work is in collaboration with Prof. Greg Bashford's group. See our five minute pitch video here.
    April-
    Congratulations to Matthew Dohmen, Calan Brant, Peter Lux, Grace Fredrickson, and Wil Fiddelke for receiving summer 2023 and/or 2023-2024 academic year UCARE funding.
    March-
    Congratulations to Kasey Moomau, an undergraduate student in the lab, on being awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! Nebraska Today article.
    March-
    Congratulations to Patrick McManigal and Spencer Pak for winning third place at the College of Engineering pitch competition. Nebraska Today article.
    March-
    Prof. Markvicka co-organized the 2023 College of Engineering Pitch Competition (2 grad teams & 4 undergrad teams; $5k Purse)
    February-
    Congratulations to incoming PhD student Kasey Moomau for receiving the Other Recruitment Fellowship.
    February-
    Congratulations to Patrick McManigal for winning the 3-in-5 pitch competition at the 2023 College of Engineering Graduate Symposium.
    February-
    Our research receives support from the Great Plains IDeA-CTR. Project funded in collaboration with Prof. Elizabeth Wellsandt from UNMC.

    We are grateful for the support from the following organizations:

  • Nebraska Tobacco Settlement Biomedical Research Development Fund and our Industry partners.


    © 2018 Smart Materials and Robotics Laboratory