Bio-Architected Mechanics
We conduct fundamental research into how structure and composition dictate the mechanical and functional behavior of materials, particularly biological systems and their synthetic counterparts. Our core mission is to understand how nature integrates architecture and chemistry to achieve robust properties like strength, toughness, and adaptability.
We draw foundational insights from models such as arthropod exoskeletons. We also leverage synthetic materials as tools to understand nature's design principles and establish new principles for material behavior. Our work explores both bio-inspired and bio-based materials, elucidating their fundamental structure–property relationships. By combining diverse experimental approaches across scales, we aim to profoundly expand the basic understanding of structure–function relationships, thus paving the way for future advancements in structural materials and sustainable technologies.
Research
Structure-Function Relationships in Biological Exoskeletons
We study the hierarchical organization and chemical composition of arthropod exoskeletons to uncover the design rules that govern their robust mechanical performance. Our focus lies in connecting multiscale architecture, interfacial chemistry, and material gradients to toughness, strength, and damage tolerance across environmental conditions.
Bioinspired Architected Materials
Our research explores the fundamental link between biological architecture and advanced fabrication. We investigate how natural design strategies can be internalized within 3D-printable systems, focusing on the complex interplay between material chemistry and hierarchical organization. By deciphering these relationships, we aim to develop synthetic analogues that replicate the adaptability and mechanical resilience inherent in living matter.
Sustainable and Living Matter
We explore the design logic of natural systems to develop materials that transcend static properties. By integrating biological principles—including hierarchy, multifunctionality, and self-healing—into biomass-derived matrices, we investigate the mechanisms that allow materials to sense, adapt, and evolve. Our research seeks to bridge the gap between inanimate substrates and autonomous systems, creating a new class of sustainable matter capable of dynamic response to environmental stimuli.
