Our center has strengths in several areas, including:
Research Strengths
Bioinspired Materials
Natural systems have inspired the development of novel materials and structures that enable new properties and performance. In CEM, our faculty focus on moving beyond pure inspiration, and strive to reveal the underlying principles of chemistry, physics, and engineering that enables organisms to exhibit superior performance. This understanding leads to the development of new theories and design principles that can be broadly applied across a range of materials. Recent examples from CEM labs include the development of GeckskinTM, programmable folding soft materials, fast moving soft actuators, and resilient, non-dissipating, polymer gels.
View Faculty Labs in Bioinspired Materials
3D Modeling
Our faculty have strong expertise in 3D visualization and shape analysis, on scales from nm to meters. These include 3D photogrammetry, both of inanimate objects, and of living organisms, and Ct-scanning of a variety of objects. Our group also has strengths in the geometric and volumetric analysis of 3D shapes, ranging from molecules to entire buildings. As an example of technology that has emerged from CEM, the BeastcamTM technology is designed to create 3D models of living animals. This technology has also been modified to capture high-resolution 3D models of human structures.
View Faculty Labs in 3D Modeling
Evolutionary Interfaces
This CEM group has several faculty who specialize in functional morphology, evolution, bio-engineering, and the interface between synthetic design and organismal structure. This group includes both biologists and engineers, who often work closely together. Some of the organisms that CEM faculty study include reptiles and amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. This group applies evolutionary and engineering principles towards understanding biological structures. They then integrate these principles with knowledge of physics to understand organismal function at a deep level. Faculty in this group also work closely with other CEM faculty to develop new biomaterials.
View Faculty Labs in Evolutionary Interfaces
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