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 has 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