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Eric Markvicka

Robert F. and Myrna L. Krohn Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Mechanical & Materials Engineering University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Dr. Eric Markvicka is the Robert F. and Myrna L. Krohn Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). There, he also holds a courtesy appointment in the School of Computing and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. At UNL Prof. Markvicka directs the Smart Materials and Robotics Laboratory, an interdisciplinary research lab that is creating multifunctional soft materials that exhibit a unique combination of mechanical, electrical, acoustic, and thermal properties. These materials are critical components for the emerging fields of wearable computing, soft robotics, and robotic materials. Prof. Markvicka is a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors, National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) Fellow, and Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy (PKFEA) Faculty Fellow and has received the 2024 NSF CAREER award, 2024 ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering award, 2024 College of Engineering Edgerton Innovation Award, 2023 College of Engineering Excellence in Research Award, and 2021 NUtech Ventures Emerging Innovator of the Year award. Before joining the faculty at UNL, Eric received his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering from UNL and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. He has been a visiting researcher at the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center, and Honeybee Robotics. He is the recipient of the graduate research fellowship awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Center for Machine Learning and Health (CMLH) at CMU, and NASA Nebraska Space Grant Consortium.

Areas of Research and Professional Interest

  • Robotics
  • Stretchable electronics
  • Soft materials
  • Liquid metals
  • Bio-inspired engineering

In the News: 

Education

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2011)
  • M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2014)
  • M.S. in Robotics, Carnegie Mellon University (2017)
  • Ph.D. in Robotics, Carnegie Mellon University (2018)

Courses Taught

  • MECH 350: Introduction to Dynamics and Control of Engineering Systems
  • MECH 453/853: Robotics: Kinematics and Design
  • MECH 492/892: Data-Driven Science and Engineering
  • ENGR 491/891: Engineering Entrepreneurship

Honors and Awards

  • Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (2025) 
  • NSF CAREER Award (2024)
  • ASME Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering (2024) 
  • College of Engineering Edgerton Innovation Award (2024) 
  • College of Engineering Excellence in Research Award (2023) 
  • Five-minute pitch competition grand prize winner - ASME Design of Medical Devices (2022)
  • NUtech Ventures Emerging Innovator of the Year (2021) 
  • Dezeen Awards Design Longlist (2019)
  • SXSW Innovation Award finalist in the Wearable Tech category (2019)
  • Design Intelligence Award honorable mention (2019)
  • Center for Machine Learning and Health Fellowship - CMU (2017) 
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2012)