Zhenan Bao

Zhenan Bao is the K.K. Lee Professor of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University, with courtesy appointments in Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, and Bioengineering. A world leader in soft and skin-inspired electronics, she has pioneered molecular design strategies and fabrication processes that enable flexible, stretchable, and biocompatible devices for health monitoring, neuroscience, and human–machine interaction. Her research group has introduced foundational concepts in conjugated polymer engineering, nano-confinement effects, and next-generation wearable and implantable electronics. Bao has authored over 800 peer-reviewed publications, holds more than 80 U.S. patents, and is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Inventors. Her work has contributed to technologies for soft robotics, advanced biomedical sensing, precision mental health, and reconfigurable electronic skins. She is also the founder and faculty director of Stanford’s Wearable Electronics Initiative (eWEAR) and remains deeply engaged in translating laboratory innovations into societal impact.