Research
Biological materials provide naturally evolved solutions for controlling mechanical behavior and resisting failure, yet the interactions between composition, structure, and mechanics remain intrinsically coupled. Our research is organized into three complementary domains that bridge biological composites, controlled experimental systems, and engineered materials.
Fundamental Question
How do composition and structural design principles govern the mechanical behavior and failure of biological composite materials?
Our Research Approach
We characterize structural design principles in biological systems, establish their causal contributions in controlled experimental models, and integrate validated principles into increasingly complex engineered materials.
Structure–Function Relationships in Biological Exoskeletons
How do biological systems integrate composition and structural organization to achieve mechanical functionality?
Biological composite materials provide natural solutions to one of the fundamental challenges in materials science: achieving a balance between mechanical performance and damage tolerance. We quantitatively characterize the compositional and structural design principles governing mechanical functionality, establishing the biological foundation for the laboratory’s research.
Architected Materials
Natural biological systems cannot isolate the contribution of individual design principles. We develop controlled architected macromolecular systems that enable systematic manipulation of composition and structure, establishing causal composition–structure–property relationships and revealing how individual design principles govern mechanical behavior and failure.
How do individual structural design principles influence mechanical behavior and failure when isolated in controlled experimental systems?
Renewable Materials & Biofabrication
How can structural design principles be integrated to engineer macromolecular systems with controllable mechanical behavior and functionality?
Building upon the fundamental understanding established in the previous domains, we integrate validated structural design principles into renewable macromolecular materials through biofabrication. Using bio-based feedstocks and living materials as experimental platforms, we investigate how structural design enables renewable materials with controllable mechanical behavior, multifunctionality, and adaptability.
