Monica Li

Education

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2023
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2018
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 2016

Previous appointments

• Research Scientist, Berkshire Grey, 2025 – 2026
• Postdoctoral Associate, Yale University, 2023 – 2025

Research Statement

Dr. Li’s research focuses on the physical contact interface between robot and world, to develop robots capable of real-world dexterous manipulation. She integrates physical experiments with analytical models to deepen our understanding of the physical world and drive mechanical design. Current interests include soft contact dynamics and fluid-structure interaction in the context of robot grasping. She is also interested in tactile sensing and sound as a sensing modality for robot perception. Advances in these areas will enhance general robot capabilities, with applications to warehouse automation, in-home assistance, space exploration, and even wearable technology. 

Select publications

1. Li, M., Stuart, H. S. (2025). “AcousTac: Tactile sensing with acoustic resonance for electronics-free soft skin." Soft Robotics, vol. 12, no. 1.
2. Li, M., Huh, T. M., Yahnker, C. R., Stuart, H. S. (2022). “Resonant pneumatic tactile sensing for soft grippers." Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 7, no.4, pp. 10105-10111.
3. Li, M., Melville, D., Chung, E., Stuart, H. S. (2020). “Milliscale Features Increase Friction of Soft Skin in Lubricated Contact." Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 4781-4787.