Welcome to our Soft Materials and Bio-Electronics (SMBE) Lab at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou). We are a highly interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers dedicated to advancing tissue-like bioelectronics for precision healthcare. Our research integrates materials science, biology, electronics, mechanics, advanced manufacturing, and data science to develop tissue-like soft bioelectronic systems that address critical healthcare needs. Our work centers on three research thrusts: (i) developing soft, porous, multifunctional biointerfaces that promote long-term biocompatibility and enable reliable biosensing during motion; (ii) integrating physiological and biochemical sensing, machine learning-enabled interpretation, and programmable therapeutic delivery into customized closed-loop systems that support disease diagnosis and adapt treatment to evolving body states; and (iii) advancing cost-effective, scalable manufacturing methods for customized soft bioelectronics to improve accessibility and affordability in real-world scenarios.
Our SMBE Lab values curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. We strive to create a supportive environment where every member is encouraged to explore new ideas and contribute to our shared goals. We welcome motivated undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers who share our interest in soft bioelectronics. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Prof. Zheng Yan at yanzheng@missouri.edu with your CV. Together, we aim to advance precision healthcare and improve quality of life through innovative bioelectronic technologies.
Founded in 1839, Mizzou is the University of Missouri System's flagship campus, one of 73 members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), and a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) institution. Mizzou ranked 124th globally and 13th among U.S. public flagship universities in TIME magazine’s list of the World’s Top Universities of 2026. Mizzou is also one of only six U.S. public universities with schools or colleges of medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering, agriculture, and law on a single campus, which also includes a university hospital.