The Astley Lab at the University of Akron has an opening for a funded PhD position working on the biomechanics of snake locomotion starting Fall 2022, funded by an NSF CAREER award.
This project examines the muscular mechanisms of force and power generation during lateral undulation in snakes and the control of contact forces. Students would be trained in a wide range of techniques including dissection, diceCT scans, force-sensing and mechanically active test arenas, fluoromicrometry, in vitro muscle physiology, and robotics. This position also includes a substantial educational component, using live animal demos and novel “code-free” robotics methods to provide disadvantaged students experience in bio-inspired robotics.
Interested students should contact Dr. Astley and apply via the University of Akron Integrated Biosciences PhD program by mid-January 2022.