Kaylie Barber

Hello, my name is Kylie Barber. I am a rising third-year student at Penn State in the College of Engineering and Schreyer Honors College. I am studying mechanical engineering and mechatronics. A fun fact about me is that I am an identical twin! My current research at Penn State is with the Engineering Design and Optimization Group and my research at Carnegie Mellon is with the Zoom Lab. Areas of research I have worked in include biomimetics, bistability, multistability, soft robotics, origami engineering, and compliant mechanisms. I have designed and manufactured compliant bistable hyperelastic hinges and am currently working on a compliant origami swimming robot. I also work at the engineering makerspace and machine shop at Penn State as a student supervisor where I have learned woodworking, machining, welding, additive manufacturing, and other skills. I love working on hands-on projects that allow me to apply my engineering coursework knowledge to the real world. I would like to thank my mentors at Penn State for introducing me to this opportunity and helping me prepare for it as well as my Carnegie Mellon RISS mentor, Dr. Temel, and everyone else at Carnegie Mellon for giving me the opportunity!