Assistant Professor Shucong Li, who holds a joint appointment in the School of Materials Science and Engineering and the School of Physics, is advancing dynamic soft materials through systems designed to sense, respond, and self-regulate, much like living organisms. Her group focuses on bio-inspired, responsive, adaptive, and architected materials, integrating polymer chemistry, mechanics, and advanced manufacturing to unlock materials that change across space and time.

Li describes her approach as “using soft materials as machines.” She designs materials whose behaviors can be programmed from the molecular scale to the macro level. They are triggered by light, heat, humidity, pressure, or electromagnetic waves.

Two projects highlight this vision. In one, Li’s team develops materials that harvest water from air in extremely arid climates, a system she successfully field-tested in Death Valley. In another, she engineers tissue-like hydrogels that remain highly hydrated while allowing oxygen and vapor exchange, which is ideal for interfaces for wearable health-monitoring devices. Her group has already demonstrated long-term Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring without irritation or discomfort. “Human skin is a dynamic environment,” Li said. “Our materials need to match those dynamics while maintaining performance.”

Li’s research direction is shaped by her path through chemistry, materials science, and mechanical engineering. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry before completing her Ph.D. at Harvard University, where she became fascinated with bio-inspired design, studying how nature achieves strength, adaptability, and efficiency through millions of years of evolution. 
During her Ph.D., she specialized in polymers but grew increasingly interested in the mechanical behavior of materials, from stiffness and toughness to shape-morphing capabilities. This curiosity led her to postdoctoral research in mechanical engineering, complementing her chemistry background with mechanics and soft robotics.

Li’s persistence during graduate work, especially the nonlinear pace of research, shaped her philosophy today. “You have to be patient when progress is slow and aggressive when things start working,” Li said. Her contributions earned recognition through the Polymer Science, Materials, and Engineering Division’s Future Leader Award, Caltech Young Investigator Award, and Foresight Fellowship, which expanded her connections across the field.

Li’s work is grounded in curiosity—understanding mechanisms deeply and using them to design materials that address real-world challenges. Whether improving sustainability or supporting healthcare technologies, she is motivated by the impact her materials can have in dynamic environments.

Mentorship is equally important to her. Li’s early volunteer teaching experience in rural communities left a lasting impression. “I learned how education and mentoring can impact an individual’s growth,” Li said. “To create impactful materials, you need multiple perspectives.” In her lab, she emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging students from chemistry, physics, and manufacturing backgrounds to learn from one another.

Over the next decade, Li aims to establish a mature research program in bio-inspired, adaptive, and architected materials and to translate her group’s discoveries into real-world applications in sustainability and healthcare. She envisions growing a team of 10–20 researchers and mentoring Ph.D. students who will continue advancing the field. Li said, “I want to build materials platforms that not only spark interest but also show a clear impact in people’s lives.”