Alum/Postdoc Spotlight: Heather Kim, Ph.D. ’24
September 19, 2025
Heather Kim, Ph.D. ’24, is a postdoc in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Seoul, South Korea. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University, and her research focuses on reimagining textiles as wearable devices. She is a recipient of a Postdoc Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Engagement as part of Cornell’s celebration of National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025.
What is your area of research, scholarship, or work and why is it important?
My research focuses on reimagining textiles as platforms for wearable devices that actively interact with the human body. In my earlier work, I created fabric-based systems that transmit mechanical forces to perform tasks on the body. I am now developing approaches that intervene in chemical pathways through fibers and fabrics. To pursue this vision, I draw on fiber science, soft robotics, and human-computer interaction. I believe the significance of my work lies in its breadth; I not only engineer fibers and design actuation systems but also study and evaluate how these devices are experienced through human-computer interaction methodologies.
What are the broader implications of this research, scholarship, or work?
I’m very aware of the health inequities in our society. For many people, even a single doctor’s visit or a round of physical therapy can feel like a major expense. Watching how doctors prescribe medicine when someone gets sick, I started asking myself, “Why can’t we also ‘prescribe devices’ with the right type of intervention?” I imagine a world where people with chronic illnesses, especially those facing financial challenges or living far from clinics, could instead be prescribed affordable wearable devices. These devices may range from a simple patch to a full suit, each designed to deliver the precise force, motion, or drug for the intended duration. And the part that excites me most is that I’m making this possible with fibers and fabrics!
What does receiving a Postdoc Achievement Award mean to you?
The word “achievement” sounds personal but I think it really comes down to community. Moving into the mechanical and aerospace engineering department and joining a lab with so many different research directions, this recognition is the result of bouncing ideas around with my brilliant lab mates, PI, and mentees. To me this award is a reminder that being in the right place lets you play your part as a cog in the bigger piece of the system.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
Outside the lab, I enjoy practicing kickboxing and I recently began training in Jeet Kune Do (despite my limited coordination). I also love listening to big band, bebop, and classical music.
Why did you choose Cornell?
I had the privilege of considering other opportunities, some even with full two-year fellowships, but I had a hunch that my current postdoc advisor’s broad expertise in haptics, soft robotics, and biomedical engineering would give me the freedom to explore unconventional ideas. And honestly within just 10 minutes of talking to her, it becomes clear that she’s someone you can truly trust and be guided by. Being transparent, respectful, and a strong leader is not something you see every day in academia. So here I am back in Ithaca once again. Big shout-out to Cara and the HAPPI Lab.
What is next for you?
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of my research, I want to be surrounded by experts across many fields. A tenure-track faculty role could be a great fit because it also lets me mentor students and help them grow. Wherever I can continue my research and lead it, whether in national labs, universities, or corporate research, I can see myself thriving.
Do you have any advice for current graduate students?
It might be cliche, but work with those who see what you can become, not what you are today.