Lab Members

PI

Henry Astley
Associate Professor

Biomimicry Research & Innovation Center
Depts. of Biology & Polymer Science
CV
Lab C301
Office C308
Office Phone: 330-972-8192
Aubrun Science Center
235 Carroll st.
Akron OH 44325-3908
Email: hastley@uakron.edu

Postdoctoral Researchers
Jessica Tingle
Postdoctoral Researcher

Musculoskeletal Biomechanics of Snake Locomotion

Ph.D. in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology from UC Riverside

B.S. in Biological Sciences from Cornell University

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Christine Vega
Postdoctoral Researcher

Musculoskeletal Biomechanics of Snake Locomotion

Ph.D. in Biology from Wake Forest University

B.A. in Biology from Bucknell University

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Graduate Students
Charles "Sam" Edwards

Biomechanics of Burrowing

IB Ph.D candidate

B.S. in Environmental Science/Biology from Ashland University

A.A.Science in Building Preservation and Restoration from Belmont College

M.A. in Applied Archaeology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in progress)

Email
Kelsey Garner

Biomechanics of Snake Locomotion 

IB Ph.D student 

B.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University 

M.S. in Biology from John Carroll University 

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Undergraduate Students
Kelly Bryant

Maneuerability in Fish
Major: Biology
Email: knb103@zips.uakron.edu

Colton Kemp

Millipede-inspired Wheelchair
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Email: cmk107@zips.uakron.edu

Andrew Duff

Bio-inspired Fish Robots
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Email: ard114@zips.uakron.edu

Andrew Preston Kovac

Hydrodynamics of Crocodilian Tail Serrations
Major: Mechanical Engineering, Biomimicry certificate
Email: apk41@uakron.edu

Ava Umlauf

Biomechanics of Underwater Walking

Major: Biology 

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Jacob Newell

Biomechanics of Burrowing 

Major: Biology 

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Zachary Nopper

Biomechanics of Underwater Walking

Major: Mechanical Engineering

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Lab Alumni (Grad)
Stephen P. Howe
Ph.D.

2016-2020 – Thesis: Biomechanics of Turning in Fish
PhD in Integrated Bioscience from University of Akron
BRIC Biomimicry Fellow
BS in Biology from Westmont College

Email
Derek J. Jurestovsky
Ph.D.

2017-2022 - Thesis: Snake Biomechanics and Locomotion
MS in Geosciences from East Tennessee State University
BS in Geology: Paleontology from Northern Arizona University

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Colleen Unsworth
Ph.D.

2017-2022 - Thesis: Innovating All-Terrain Mobility Solutions for Access Equity Through Bio-Inspired Inclusive Design and Entrepreneurship

BS in Biology from Grand Valley State University

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Kaelyn Gamel
Ph.D.

2018-2023 Thesis - Biomechanics of Underwater Walking
MS & BA in Biology from New Jersey Institute of Technology

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Lab Alumni (Technicians)
Sophia Pinti

Biomechanics of Underwater Walking
BS in Biology
from University of Akron 2017
Email: sgi2@uakron.edu

Lab Alumni (Undergrad)
Amith Rao

2016-2018 – Biomechanics of Tree Frog Jumping
Undergraduate
Major: Natural Science
Current Position: Medical School at NEOMED

Hamna Siddiqui

Summer 2017 – Biomechanics of Tendons
REU student from Dennison University
Major: Chemistry

Stephen Adasonla

Summer 2018 – Biomechanics of Tendons
REU student from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Major: Biology

Emily Trenka

2016-2017 – Force Sensing Gels
Undergraduate
Major: Computer ScienceCurrent Position: Foundation Software

Jennifer McCoy

Summer 2018 – Hydrodynamics of Crocodile Tail Serrations
RET Biology teacher for GlenOak High School in Canton
B.S. in Biology – U. of Akron (2008)

Dalia Laredo

Summer 2018 – Tendon Hysteresis in mice
REU Student from Carnegie Mellon
Major: Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Christina Lee

Summer 2018 – Biomimetic Robotic Fish Turning
Summer student from Boston College
Major: Biology & Psychology

Sophie Cressman

2016-2018 – Biomechanics of Underwater Walking in Salamanders
Major: Biochemistry & Applied Math
Current Position:Vet School at OSU

Dana Cressman

2016-2018 – Biomechanics of Underwater Walking in Salamander Robots
Major: Chemical Engineering
Current Position: Procter and Gamble

David Leffler

2017-2019 – Electromyography of Fish Turning
Major: Chemical Engineering
Current Position: Reformed University Fellowship, U. of Minnesota

Megan Lee

2017-2019 – Biomechanics of Underwater Walking in Salamanders
Major: Biology (Pre-Physical Therapy), Minor: Psychology

Walid Abuhashim

2017-2019 – Biomechanics of Preying Mantis Strikes
Major: Biomedical Engineering

Logan Usher

2018 - 2020 Vertical undulation in snakes
Major: Biology (pre-med)

Tabitha Cooper

2019-2023 Underwater Walking in Salamanders
Major: Biology

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