Medical Engineering Distinguished Seminar Series, Prof. Cunjiang Yu

Electronics that seamlessly integrate with the human body hold significant impact in medical diagnostics and therapeutics. However, achieving this seamless integration is a challenge due to the stark mechanical contrast between conventional electronics and biological tissues. Traditional electronics are rigid and planar, whereas the human body is soft, deformable, and curvilinear, consisting of dynamic biological materials, organs, and tissues. This presentation will introduce our strategies to address the challenge through the development of soft electronics, including flexible, stretchable, and rubbery electronics. By leveraging ultra-thin and open-mesh architectures, traditionally rigid electronic materials can be engineered to become mechanically soft and stretchable, enabling intimate integration with skin, organs, and tissues. In contrast, rubbery electronics take a materials-first approach, utilizing intrinsically elastic semiconductors and conductors to achieve tissue-like softness and stretchability. This paradigm shift toward mechanically compliant electronics paves the way for next-generation bioelectronic interfaces with unprecedented biocompatibility and functionality.

Biography: Dr. Cunjiang Yu is the Founder Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, of Materials Science and Engineering, of Mechanical Science and Engineering, and of Bioengineering. His research focuses on the fundamentals and applications of soft and bio electronics. His work has been recognized by a list of awards, including the multiple Young Investigator Awards from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Engineering Science, American Vacuum Society, Office of Naval Research, CAREER Award from National Science Foundation (NSF), Trailblazer Award from NIH, MIT Technology Review Innovator under 35, etc.

Webpage: https://yu.ece.illinois.edu/