Pierre-Thomas

Brun

Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Research interests: Fluid mechanics and elasticity; interfacial phenomenon and capillary effects; desktop experiments and minimal models; instability in soft matter; soft robotics; shape morphing and morphogenesis.

Two small rectangular robots connected by a flexible tether; three researchers watch in background. — The robots have no internal controls. Guidance depends on a flexible tether. Photos by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

For these little robots, two heads are better than one

Foam board with a pinned grasshopper specimen, with wings extended, and four rows with different colors and shapes of synthetic wings under investigation for flying robots. — A team led by Pierre-Thomas Brun and Aimy Wissa is studying the structures and capabilities of grasshopper wings and flying fish fins. An innovation grant will allow the researchers to test different types of foldable wings and model their performance. Photos by Tori Repp/Fotobuddy

Innovation funds support research in robotics, machine learning, climate resilience and more

close-up of laboratory equipment holding a square of synthetic diamond — Nathalie de Leon, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, has pioneered the effort to use diamonds as platforms for quantum engineering. Photo by David Kelly Crow

Princeton engineers win major physics prizes

four images showing progress of dots spreading to form a composite P — Princeton Engineering researchers developed a pixel-by-pixel way to print soft elastics into composite materials for use in soft robotics and medical sensing applications. Images courtesy of the researchers

Easy as an inkjet, a new soft printing technique has opened the way for pixelated elastics

Portrait of researcher — Trevor Jones. Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Balloons, beadwork and Native heritage are inspiration for materials engineer

soft robot grabs a ball — Princeton researchers used bubble casting to create soft robotics capable of grabbing and lifting a ball when inflated with air. Princeton University

Tiny bubbles help create soft robotics

Professor and student work together in lab setting.

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Advancing human health, energy, materials science, and industrial processes

Pierre-Thomas Brun