Welcome! 

I am currently on the 2026–2027 tenure-track faculty job market. My research lies at the intersection of mechanics, robotics, and materials, with a focus on embedding intelligence directly into robotic bodies through structural design and functional materials. I am seeking faculty opportunities where I can build an interdisciplinary research program in mechanically intelligent and adaptive robotic systems. Please feel free to contact me regarding potential faculty opportunities or collaborations.

News

• 10/13/2026 Our research was highlighted by ScienceAdviser in Science Magazine: Hey now, you’re a feather star.

• 10/07/2026 Exciting News! Our paper, titled "Minimal-actuation feather star–inspired soft swimmers for multimodal 3D maneuverability," published today in Science Advances with related Focus article "Plenty of fish in the sea, but only one multimodal feather star robot".

• 10/01/2026 Haitao and co-organizers organized a full-day workshop on Mechanically Intelligent Soft Robotics at IROS 2026. 

• 08/27/2026 Exciting News! Our paper, titled "A self-resetting soft ring for autonomous, continuous leaping in unstructured environments", has been published in PNAS.

• 07/01/2026 Our work has been highlighted by the NC State Magazine! Congrats!

• 06/15/2026 Exciting News! Our paper, titled "Minimal-actuation feather star–inspired soft swimmers for multimodal 3D maneuverability," has been accepted for publication in Science Advances.

• 06/12/2026 Haitao Qing gave an invited talk in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Yale University.

• 05/17/2026 Our workshop "Mechanically Intelligent Soft Robotics" has been accepted by IROS committee! See you in Pittsburgh this Oct.!

• 05/14/2026 Our paper published in Advanced Materials, has been selected as the top viewed paper published by the journal in 2024.

• 01/30/2026 Haitao has been named a winner in the 2025 Envisioning Research awards by North Carolina State University.

• 12/09/2025 Exciting News! Our paper, titled "Enhancing Soft Robots with Chemical Shielding for Harsh Corrosive Liquid Environments," has been accepted for publication in Materials Horizons.

• 11/03/2025 Haitao Qing started his postdoctoral researcher position at University of California, Berkeley with Prof. Lining Yao. 

• 10/21/2025 Haitao Qing unconditionally passed his Ph.D. defense! Now, Dr. Qing.

• 07/30/2025 Haitao Qing gave a guest lecture in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley.

• 07/15/2025 Haitao Qing gave an invited talk in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia tech.

• 06/12/2025 Haitao Qing is honored to be selected as a recipient of the Future Faculty Symposium Travel Award at SES! 

• 06/06/2025 Our paper, titled "Programmable seconds-to-days-long delayed snapping in jumping metashells", has been published in PNAS today!

• 05/08/2025 Exciting News! Our paper, titled "Programmable seconds-to-days-long delayed snapping in jumping metashells," has been accepted for publication in PNAS.

• 02/21/2025 Haitao Qing unconditionally passed his Ph.D. preliminary oral exam!

• 01/18/2025 Haitao Qing has been selected as the MAE representative presenters to give a poster presentation at the 18th Annual NC State University Graduate Student Research Symposium! https://grad.ncsu.edu/students/signature-events/symposium/

• 12/04/2024 Our new work out today in Science Advances and highlighted on the frontpages of Science Magazine and Science Advances at https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adq4222.

• 10/30/ 2024 Exciting News! Our paper, titled "Spontaneous snapping-induced jet flows for fast, maneuverable surface and underwater soft flapping swimmer," has been accepted for publication in Science Advances.

• 05/27/2024 Exciting News! Our paper, titled "Fully 3D-Printed Miniature Soft Hydraulic Actuators with Shape Memory Effect for Morphing and Manipulation," has been accepted for publication in Advanced Materials.