Di Ni is a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University, working with Prof. Radhika Nagpal in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. She received her PhD (2022) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University, where she was advised by Prof. Amit Lal. Her research lies at the intersection of MEMS and robotics, with a particular focus on developing small-scale robots for collective swarm operations in complex environments. Prior to her Ph.D., she earned her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Physics from Cornell University and Beijing Normal University, respectively. She has been recognized as an RSS pioneer for 2024 and is the recipient of the Princeton SEAS Innovation Grant.

Education

• Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, 2022
• M.S. in Applied Physics, Cornell University, 2017
• B.S. in Physics, Beijing Normal University, 2015

Work Experience

• Fall 2022 - present: Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University
  • Led the research on underwater collectives formation
  • Supervisor: Radhika Nagpal

Selected Awards and Recognitions

• 2024 SEAS Innovation Grant “A Miniaturized Underwater Robotic Platform for Revealing Hydrodynamic Synergies in Fish Schooling” | Princeton University ($140,000)
• 2024 Robotics: Science and Systems (RSS) Pioneers
• 2024 SEAS Diversity and Inclusion Funding – Establishing Robotics Lab DEI Movie Nights | Princeton University ($2,000)
• 2023 “Science Outside the Lab” Faculty Program | National Nanotechnology Coordianted Infrastructure

Teaching & Mentoring

• 2024 Undergrad Student Independent Work Co-Supervisor

• 2023 Undergrad Student Co-Supervisor and Thesis Supervisor

• 2022 Teaching Assistant