An Insightful Conversation with Prof. John A. Rogers, Honorary Editor-in-Chief of Soft Science
On June 10, 2025, the Editorial Office of Soft Science hosted an online interview with Prof. John A. Rogers, Honorary Editor-in-Chief of the journal, from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. In this interview, Prof. Rogers shared insights into recent research advances and reflected on emerging directions in bio-integrated and flexible electronics.
The interview was jointly conducted by Prof. Xing Ma from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Guangdong, China, and Prof. Huanyu Cheng from the Penn State College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA. Drawing on their expertise in biomedical micro/nano technologies, flexible electronics, and advanced materials, the interviewers engaged Prof. Rogers in an in-depth discussion on recent technological breakthroughs, medical translation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in bio-integrated electronics.
By bringing together leading perspectives from materials science, bioelectronics, and applied engineering, this interview highlights the evolving landscape of flexible and bio-integrated electronic technologies and their growing impact on healthcare and human-machine interaction.
Watch the full interview with Prof. John A. Rogers:
Interview Questions:
Q1. In your recent publication in Nature, your team introduced a non-contact epidermal gas flux monitoring system. Looking ahead, which performance parameters do you plan to prioritize for improvement? Are there any plans to integrate this technology with sweat sensors to further enhance health monitoring capabilities?
Q2. Your team's development of an ultra-miniaturized, wireless, biodegradable cardiac pacemaker holds great promise for newborns with congenital heart defects. During the design process, how did you balance material biocompatibility, controlled biodegradability, and long-term functional stability?
Q3. The use of sustainable materials is becoming increasingly important in the field of bioelectronics. In your opinion, which material performance metrics need to be significantly improved to advance this field?
Q4. As flexible and bio-integrated electronics continue progressing toward real-world applications, what interdisciplinary collaborations or emerging directions do you see as particularly promising for driving innovation?
Q5. The integration of artificial intelligence, digital health, and flexible electronics is reshaping medical technology. How do you view the long-term potential of this integration? What core challenges do you think need to be overcome in translating these technologies into clinical applications?
Q6. Reflecting on your research journey, were there key moments or ideas that significantly influenced your direction? What suggestions would you share with early-career scientists just starting out in this field?
About the Interviewee:
Prof. John A. Rogers
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Prof. John A. Rogers is an internationally recognized pioneer in bio-integrated, flexible, and stretchable electronic systems. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. His research has led to foundational advances in epidermal electronics, soft wearable devices, and fully three-dimensional haptic actuators, enabling transformative applications in healthcare monitoring, biomedical engineering, and human-computer interaction.
Research Interests
• Soft materials for conformal electronics, nanophotonic structures, microfluidic devices, and microelectromechanical systems;
• Bio-inspired and bio-integrated technologies
Selected Honors and Awards
• IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award (2024)
• Sigma Xi William Procter Prize for Scientific Achievement (2023)
• James Prize in Science and Technology Integration, U.S. National Academy of Sciences (2022)
• Member, National Academy of Medicine (2019)
• MRS Medal of the Materials Research Society (2018)
• Member, National Academy of Sciences (2015)
• Member, National Academy of Engineering (2011)
• Leo Hendrick Baekeland Award from the American Chemical Society (2007)
About the Interviewers:
Prof. Huanyu Cheng
Penn State College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
Research Interests
• Advanced materials and devices
• Applied mechanics and biomechanics
• Nanoscience, bionanoscience and engineering
• Structural and human health monitoring
• Mechanics of materials
• Stretchable electronics
• Transient sensors
• Advanced manufacturing
• Finite element analysis
Prof. Xing Ma
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Guangdong, China
Research Interests
• Micro and nanorobotics
• Molecular communication and nanonetworks
• Microfluidic and biosensing technologies
• Advanced sensor and energy harvesting materials
• Biosensors and analytical detection
• Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
• Advanced materials and mechanics
Editor: Mirra Du
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Soft Science
