SMART-Lab
Smart Materials for Advanced Robotic Technologies
Principal Investigator
Hamed Shahsavan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
Education
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PhD, University of Waterloo, 2017
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MASc, University of Waterloo, 2012
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BSc, Sharif University of Technology, 2009
Appointments
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Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo , Canada (2020-present)
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NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Germany (2017-2020)
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Visiting Scholar, Tampere University, Finland (2018)
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Visiting Scholar, Kent State University, USA (2015-2017)
Dr. Hamed Shahsavan is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He obtained his PhD in chemical engineering and nanotechnology from the University of Waterloo in 2017. In his graduate studies, Dr. Shahsavan's research was focused on the fabrication and characterization of bioinspired micro/nanostructured surfaces and their implications in fundamental studies of contact mechanics, and interfacial phenomena, such as adhesion, friction, and wetting. Fascinated by the rapidly growing fields of soft robotics and smart materials, he moved to Stuttgart in Germany, to embark on his postdoctoral research as an NSERC postdoctoral fellow at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. In this period, he mainly focused on the synthesis of different types of liquid crystalline elastomers, networks and gels to deploy them as shape-change programmable materials in soft robots and devices at millimeter to micrometer scale. During his PhD studies, Dr. Shahsavan was a visiting scholar in the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University, OH, USA. He was also a visiting scientist in the Smart Photonic Materials (SPM) research group at the University of Tampere in Finland. His current research interests revolve around the development of a variety of soft, stimuli-responsive, and programmable materials, and different fabrication methods for the manufacturing of small-scale mobile robots and devices.
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Mohsen Sharafi
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Mohsen Sharafi has Ph.D. in Animal Science with a focus on reproductive physiology. He is a reproductive physiologist specializing in improving fertility and reproductive performance. His research addresses key challenges in male reproductive physiology and various factors affecting fertility outcomes. Currently serving as a Scientist Research Manager in industry, he leads multiple research projects aimed at enhancing reproductive efficiency and fertility. As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo, he collaborates with SMART-Lab on innovative research initiatives focused on smart technologies and novel strategies to address fertility challenges and improve reproductive outcomes.
Visiting Scholars
Dr. Hanyang Jiang
Visiting Scientist
Dr. Hanyang Jiang holds a PhD in Engineering Mechanics, with a focus on developing non-contact full-field deformation measurement methods. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Zhejiang University of Technology, China. His current research in the SMART Lab focuses on the mechanical properties of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and their applications.
Graduate Students
Yasaman Maddah
PhD Student
Yasaman has received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Polymer Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in 2019. Her master’s project was based on synthesizing a new hyper-branched structure of polyolefins and its subsequent rheological characterization. She currently works on synthesis and characterization of novel liquid crystal elastomers as her Ph.D. project.
Negin Bouzari
PhD Student
Negin received her B.Sc. in Polymer Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran, Iran) in 2020. She has previously worked on modeling and analyzing different types of spiral dies used in blown film extrusion. She received her MASc from University of Waterloo in 2023 and her research was focused on self-healing, programmable hydrogels for soft robotic applications.
Negar Rajabi
PhD Student
Negar received her master’s degree in Materials Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology in 2019. Her master’s research focused on the synthesis and characterization of an adhesive and injectable nanocomposite hydrogel as a potential surgical sealant. She is currently pursuing her PhD, where her research centers on the synthesis of life-like materials within the field of stimuli-responsive smart materials.
Matthew Scarfo
PhD Student
Matthew is a direct PhD student in chemical engineering who acquired his BASc in nanotechnology engineering at the University of Waterloo. His research experiences range from microfabrication of Liquid Crystal Networks to the development of reprocessable Liquid Crystal Elastomers. Prior to joining us, Matthew accumulated 2 years of experience in R&D working on formulation, characterization, and reverse engineering of polymer composites, such as CNTs inks and commercial plastics.
Mu Yun Zhang
PhD Student
Mu Yun received her H.B.Sc. in Human Biology and Physiology from the University of Toronto in 2025. She previously investigated biomolecular mechanisms of oocyte quality and survival using mouse models. She is currently a direct PhD student at the University of Waterloo, researching the application of microrobotics to improve fertility and assisted reproductive technologies.
Irving Hafed Tejedor
MASc Student
Irving Hafed Tejedor is a future graduate student in the Chemical Engineering program at the University of waterloo. Irving earned his BASc in Industrial Chemical Technology in the university of Panama in 2022. His research experiences have involved in the dentification of synthetic sweetener methods by HPLC in a flavor company.
Ian Kuula Ross
MASc Student
Ian has a BSc in Nanotechnology Engineering from University of Waterloo, where he developed a novel approach for magnetic control in micro-robotic systems. His research interests include electromagnetism, physical chemistry, robotics, and control systems. At the SMART-Lab he will explore the integration of his electromagnetic system with state-of-the-art smart materials.
Cole Fredericks
MASc Student
Cole Fredericks is a Master's student in the Chemical Engineering program at the University of Waterloo. His past research experiences have involved the development and characterization of commercial thermoplastic and protective nanoceramic coating formulations. He is currently investigating the design of stimulus-responsive hydrogels and their microfabrication using digital micromirror devices for biomedical applications.
Research Assistant
Leif Koop
UG Research Assistant
Leif Koop is currently an undergraduate student in the Physics program at the University of Waterloo. His research experiences have involved the formulation and optical examination of LCN/LCE actuators using polarized microscopy.
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Melanie Bouzanne
UG Research Assistant
Melanie is an undergraduate student studying Materials and Nanosciences at University of Waterloo. Her current research is focused on the optimization and characterization of programmable stimuli-responsive foam hydrogels for applications in soft robotics.
Kati Bertrand
Research Assistant
Kati earned her M.Sc. in Animal Breeding and Genetics and an engineering degree in Animal Science (Zootechnics) from the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Poland, where her work focused on the practical application of animal welfare science. At the SMART-Lab, she is currently exploring the development of encapsulation techniques tailored to protect a wide range of sensitive biological and pharmaceutical cargos.
