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Bertoldi Group

Materials and Structures by Design

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Welcome

Welcome to the Bertoldi Group at Harvard University. In our research, we combine theoretical, computational and experimental methods to gain deeper insight into the non-linear behavior of materials and structures. Guided by theoretical and numerical analysis, we exploit material and geometric non-linearities to design novel materials with tunable exceptional properties, and we seek to create and test such materials. 

Open Positions

The Bertoldi Group currently has no openings. Check this space for future opportunities. 

Recent Publications

  1. Kamp LM, Zanaty M, Zareei A, Gorissen B, Wood RJ, and Bertoldi K. Reprogrammable sequencing for physically intelligent underactuated robots. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2025 :e2508310122. Reprogrammable sequencing for physically intelligent underactuated robots PDF Programming Robots with Rubber BandsNews Article This Robot Runs on Rubber Bands Only!YouTube Reprogrammable sequencing for physically intelligent underactuated robotsMovies
  2. Risso G, Pesaresi L, Meeussen AS, Bertoldi K. Conditional stability in metamaterials: Experiments, modeling, and 3D design. Extreme Mechanics Letters. 2025 :102393. Conditional stability in metamaterials: Experiments, modeling, and 3D design PDF
  3. McCann CM, Arnold J, Lehmacher C, Bertoldi K, Walsh CJ. On-body textile hysteresis estimation for personalized physical human-robot interaction. The International Journal of Robotics Research. 2025 :018202. On-body textile hysteresis estimation for personalized physical human-robot interaction PDF
  4. Dudek KK, Kadic M, Coulais C, Bertoldi K. Shape-morphing metamaterials. Nature Reviews Materials. 2025 :1-16. Shape-morphing metamaterials PDF
  5. Wilborn AM, Almohammadi H, Qu P, Wang Y, Yang Y, Kay R, Kim D, Bertoldi K, Weitz D, Aizenberg J. Towards Differentiation in Untethered Microactuators: A Soft Fabrication Strategy. Advanced Materials. 2025 :2507273. Towards Differentiation in Untethered Microactuators: A Soft Fabrication Strategy PDF Towards Differentiation in Untethered Microactuators: A Soft Fabrication Strategy MoviesMovies
  6. Risso G, Isbled M, Melancon D, Bertoldi K. Twisting-Induced Instabilities in Double-Helix Chiral Rods. Physical Review Letters. 2025 :018202. Twisting-Induced Instabilities in Double-Helix Chiral Rods PDF Twisting-Induced Instabilities in Double-Helix Chiral Rods MoviesMovies
  7. Programmable Surface Dimpling of Textile Metamaterials for Aerodynamic ControlFarrell DT, McCann CM, Forte AE, Walsh CJ, Bertoldi K. Programmable Surface Dimpling of Textile Metamaterials for Aerodynamic Control. Advanced Materials. 2025 :2505817. Programmable Surface Dimpling of Textile Metamaterials for Aerodynamic Control PDF Programmable Surface Dimpling of Textile Metamaterials for Aerodynamic Control Movies
  8. Farhadi D, Pernigoni L, Melancon D, Bertoldi K. Origami Crawlers: Exploring A Single Origami Vertex for Complex Path Navigation. Advanced Materials. 2025 :2502293. Origami Crawlers: Exploring A Single Origami Vertex for Complex Path Navigation PDF A New Design Strategy for Highly Multistable Kirigami Metamaterials Movies
  9. A New Design Strategy for Highly Multistable Kirigami MetamaterialsMeeussen AS, Corvi A, Bertoldi K. A New Design Strategy for Highly Multistable Kirigami Metamaterials. Advanced Functional Materials. 2024 :2415986. A New Design Strategy for Highly Multistable Kirigami Metamaterials PDF A New Design Strategy for Highly Multistable Kirigami Metamaterials Movies
  1. Ding X, Sanchez V, Bertoldi K, Rycroft CH. Unravelling the mechanics of knitted fabrics through hierarchical geometric representation. Proceedings Royal Society A. 2024;480 :20230753.Unravelling the mechanics of knitted fabrics through hierarchical geometric representation PDF
  2. Meeussen AS, Bordiga G, Chang AX, Spoettling B, Becker KP, Mahadevan L, Bertoldi K. Textile Hinges Enable Extreme Properties of Kirigami Metamaterials. Advanced Functional Materials. 2024 :2415986. Textile Hinges Enable Extreme Properties of Kirigami MetamaterialsPDF Textile Hinges Enable Extreme Properties of Kirigami MetamaterialsMovies
  3. Bordiga G, Medina E, Jafarzadeh S, Bösch C, Adams RP, Tournat V, Bertoldi K. Automated discovery of reprogrammable nonlinear dynamic metamaterials. Nature Materials. 2024. Automated discovery of reprogrammable nonlinear dynamic metamaterialsPDF Automated discovery of reprogrammable nonlinear dynamic metamaterialsMovies
  4. Complex Deformation in Soft Cylindrical Structures viaProgrammable Sequential InstabilitiesYang Y, Read H, Sbai M, Zareei A, Forte AE, Melancon D, Bertoldi K. Complex Deformation in Soft Cylindrical Structures viaProgrammable Sequential Instabilities. Advanced Materials. 2024 :2406611. Complex Deformation in Soft Cylindrical Structures viaProgrammable Sequential InstabilitiesMovies Complex Deformation in Soft Cylindrical Structures viaProgrammable Sequential InstabilitiesPDF
  5. Mogas-Soldevila L, Duro-Royo J, Lizardo D, Hollyer GG, Settens CM, Cox JM, Overvelde JTB, DiMasi E, Bertoldi K, Weaver JC, et al. Driving macro-scale transformations in three-dimensional-printed biopolymers through controlled induction of molecular anisotropy at the nanoscale. Interface Focus. 2024;14 :20230077. Driving macro-scale transformations in three-dimensional-printed biopolymers through controlled induction of molecular anisotropy at the nanoscalePDF