Cynthia Sung

Cynthia Sung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania, with secondary appointments in CIS and ESE, and is a core member of the GRASP Lab. Her research lies at the intersection of computational design, fabrication, and robotics, with a strong emphasis on origami-inspired and compliant robotic systems. Sung develops algorithmic methods and automated design tools that enable rapid, accessible, and customizable robot creation, bridging the gap between engineering mechanics, materials, and computer-aided design. Her group explores reconfigurable structures, self-folding mechanisms, tubular and curved-crease origami chains, tunable-stiffness actuators, hybrid aerial vehicles, and deployable robotic platforms. The work spans both theoretical modeling and hands-on fabrication, aiming to democratize robot design while enabling new functionalities in small-scale, low-cost, and versatile robotic systems. Sung received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, advised by Daniela Rus, and has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards including the ONR Young Investigator Award, NSF CAREER Award, Johnson & Johnson Women in STEM2D Award, and a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award. She directs the Sung Robotics Lab, advancing the future of programmable matter and accessible robot prototyping.