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I am a graduate student in MIT Mechanical Engineering in the Portela Research Group, researching mechanics of physically intelligent materials across scales.
I design, fabricate, and characterize the mechanics of material systems that respond predictably to various stimuli, such as mechanical forces and vibrations and magnetic fields.
These materials systems transform material functionality in medical devices, robotics, and microelectronics.
Recent News
Recent News
Awarded the Den Hartog Travel Award in Mechanics to present at the Society of Engineering Science Annual Technical Meeting, October 2025
Selected to attend the NextProf Nexus workshop at UC Berkeley, September 2025
Generative inverse design of metamaterials with functional responses by interpretable learning: published in Advanced Intelligent Systems, November 2024
Selected to attend the Rising Stars in Mechanical Engineering workshop at Carnegie Mellon University, October 2024
Tailored ultrasound propagation in microscale metamaterials via inertia design: published in Science Advances, November 2024
featured in MIT News and MIT Mechanical Engineering News
Micro-inertia design framework for tuning ultrasound wave propagation: 3rd place in Graduate Engineering Science category, poster at De Florez Poster Competition, MIT, May 2024.
Dynamic diagnosis of metamaterials through laser-induced vibrational signatures: published in Nature, November 2023
featured in Nature Briefings and MIT News
Research
Research
I use solid mechanics principles to design, fabricate, and characterize physically intelligent materials to transform how we use materials in complex engineering problems across medical, defense, and robotics applications.
Endowing microscale 3D printed nanocomposites with spatially tunable magnetic and mechanical properties
Endowing microscale 3D printed nanocomposites with spatially tunable magnetic and mechanical properties
Read more about Magnetically responsive microprintable soft nanocomposites with tunable nanoparticle loading, preprint published on arXiv.
Redistributing mass to change how ultrasound waves travel through a material
Redistributing mass to change how ultrasound waves travel through a material
Read more about Tailored ultrasound propagation in microscale metamaterials via inertia design, published in Science Advances.
Extracting a metamaterial's vibrational fingerprint without touching it
Extracting a metamaterial's vibrational fingerprint without touching it
Read more about Dynamic diagnosis of metamaterials through laser-induced vibrational signatures, published in Nature.
For a more straightforward description than the journal article, see my article in Nature Briefings.
Mimicking natural growth processes to control mechanical properties
Mimicking natural growth processes to control mechanical properties
Read more about Growth rules for irregular architected materials with programmable properties, published in Science
Teaching, Mentoring, and Service
Teaching, Mentoring, and Service
Just as many mentors have poured into my development as a leader and engineer, I aim to equip my students with problem-solving and communication skills to become leaders in their fields and communities.
Read more about my teaching and mentoring philosophy and view sample teaching materials here.
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