Bio

Woongbi Cho is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. He received his B.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering from Inha University in February 2019 , and his Ph.D. in Organic and Nano Engineering from Hanyang University in February 2025. His doctoral research focused on developing next-generation polymer composites, emphasizing processing-structure-property-performance (PSPP) relationships in liquid crystalline and sulfur-rich polymers. Currently, Woongbi's research interests center on adaptive materials, electromagnetically (EM)-driven soft robotics, polymer assembly mechanisms, and active metamaterials for applications in soft robotics, optoelectronics, and energy harvesting.

Honors & Awards

  • Prof. Choi Sam Kwon Ph.D. Dissertation Award, Polymer Society of Korea (PSK) (2025)
  • Ph.D. Dissertation Award, Hanyang University (2025)
  • Ph.D. Dissertation Award, The Research Institute of Industrial Science, Hanyang University (2025)
  • Excellent Student Oral Presentation Award, The 7th International Conference on Active Materials and Soft Mechatronics (2024 AMSM) (2024)
  • Excellent Oral Presentation Award, Polymer Society of Korea (PSK) (2024)
  • Outstanding Discussant Award, The 24th Korea Liquid Crystal Conference (2024)
  • Excellent Oral Presentation Award, The 23rd Korea Liquid Crystal Conference (2023)

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Hanyang University, Organic and Nano Engineering (2025)
  • B.S., Inha University, Polymer Science and Engineering (2019)

Stanford Advisors

Contact

  • Academic
    woongbi@stanford.edu
    University - Scholar Department: Mechanical Engineering Position: Postdoctoral Scholar

Additional Info

Links

All Publications

  • Physically Intelligent Liquid Crystalline Polymers for Soft Robotics and Shape-Reconfigurable Devices ACS APPLIED OPTICAL MATERIALS Hahm, M., Cho, W., Jeon, J., Yang, K., Wie, J. 2026

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acsaom.6c00019

    View details for Web of Science ID 001716949400001

  • Light-Fueled In-Operando Shape Reconfiguration, Fixation, and Recovery of Magnetically Actuated Microtextured Covalent Adaptable Networks ADVANCED MATERIALS Yoon, Y., Moon, H., Cho, W., Lee, D., Jeong, S., Wie, J., Kim, C. 2025; 37 (39): e2503161

    Abstract

    Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) enable reprocessability via dynamic bond exchange above their topology freezing transition temperature (Tv) despite chemical crosslinks. However, conventional CANs often exhibit insufficient viscosity reduction upon heating, necessitating extensive application of heat and pressure through direct contact for processing. In this study, a disulfide-bonded CAN is introduced to facilitate UV-assisted processing at room temperature, in addition to conventional thermal processing above Tv. At room temperature, UV irradiation accelerates stress relaxation, mirroring the effect of high-temperature activation (> Tv = 86 °C) without UV. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation also reveals the underlying mechanism of UV- and heat-induced dynamic bond exchange. By incorporating magnetic NdFeB particles, magnetomechanical actuation of CAN/NdFeB microarrays is achieved. Unlike conventional approaches which rely on binders to maintain actuated shapes after removal of magnetic field, this system enables in-operando UV-fueled shape reconfiguration and fixation through dynamic bond exchange at room temperature, with reversible recovery of the original architectures on-demand. Furthermore, photoresponsivity allows for contactless spatiotemporal control over dynamic bond exchanges and resultant microarchitectures via a masking technique. This strategy offers facile, patternable 3D microfabrication and binder-free homologous shape-fixation in dry conditions without external pressure.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/adma.202503161

    View details for Web of Science ID 001499903600001

    View details for PubMedID 40451763

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12506623

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1057-9568