Darren J. Lipomi

Darren J. Lipomi is an American chemical engineer, materials scientist, and academic administrator. He is the Chair of the Department of Chemical and Sustainability Engineering at the University of Rochester. His research focuses on organic electronics, wearable sensors, and "electronic skin" designed to mimic the mechanical properties of biological tissue.

Early life and education Lipomi grew up in Hilton, New York. He attended Boston University, where he earned a B.S. in chemistry with a minor in physics in 2005 as a Beckman Scholar.

In July 2024, Lipomi was appointed Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Rochester.

In 2024, Lipomi co-authored the textbook Introduction to Nanoengineering with Robert S. Ramji, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Research Lipomi's research centers on the molecular engineering of electronic and electroactive polymers, with a focus on the mechanical properties of semiconducting polymers for flexible solar cells, biomechanical sensors, and phenomena at the intersection of materials chemistry with human perception.

His independent research at UC San Diego focused on developing stretchable, biodegradable, and self-healing semiconducting materials, often referred to as "electronic skin."

In 2014, his group's work on "molecularly stretchable electronics" was reported in ScienceDaily. In 2024, his team published research in Science Robotics on a soft, stretchable electrode capable of simulating touch sensations through electrical signals, with coverage in ScienceDaily and The Engineer.

In 2017, Lipomi's group published a study in PLOS ONE on a low-cost sensor glove for recognizing American Sign Language fingerspelling. The project received attention from The Atlantic, which discussed it in a broader investigation of why sign-language gloves have failed to serve the Deaf community.

His laboratory also explores a field he terms "organic haptics," which combines active polymers, contact mechanics, and psychophysics.

Science communication Lipomi is active in public science education. He hosts the Molecular Podcasting with Darren Lipomi series, available on major podcast platforms, which covers topics related to STEM academia, research, and professional development.

He also manages a YouTube channel where he discusses academic career strategies, STEM education, and research guidance. He has posted over 200 videos since starting the channel in 2017.

Awards and honors Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2019). NIH Director's New Innovator Award (2015). NSF BRITE-Pivot Award (2022) AFOSR Young Investigator Program Award (2013)

Selected publications