Binysh Lab
Mechanical Engineering
We study the mechanics of advanced materials for smarter soft robots.
Our interests encompass the mechanics of advanced materials in all their guises—mechanical metamaterials , topological materials, active matter—and how they can be used to build smarter soft robots. Our goal is to design robotic materials: soft robots that use collective phenomena to achieve functionality without central control.
For open postions, see the positions page!
Interests
New PhD Position: Embodying Intelligence in Robotic Materials
Application deadline: 6th November 2026.
Twisted optical fibres on the cover of Nature Photonics
Our work on Twisted Optical Fibres as Photonic Topological Insulators has been featured on the cover of Nature Photonics, with a commentary by Michael Rechtsman.
Associated publication: Twisted Optical Fibres as Photonic Topological Insulators.
Nonreciprocal buckling on the cover of PNAS
Our work is out now in PNAS.
Associated publication: Nonreciprocal Buckling Makes Active Filaments Polyfunctional.
More is less featured in Physics Viewpoint
More Is Less in Unpercolated Active Solids is featured in Physics Viewpoint, with commentary by Tzer Han Tan. Thanks Tzer Han!
Associated publication: More Is Less in Unpercolated Active Solids.