Previous undergraduates
2022-23
2021-22
Terrell analyzed high-speed video footage of ducks landing on water, and also helped collect experimental data in the field.
2020-21
Terrell analyzed high-speed video footage of ducks landing on water, and also helped collect experimental data in the field.
2019-20
Mela analyzed motion-capture data from our project on how flying snakes cross gaps.
Terrell analyzed high-speed video footage of ducks landing on water, and also helped collect experimental data in the field.
2018-19
Terrell analyzed high-speed video footage of ducks landing on water, and also helped collect experimental data in the field.
Mela analyzed motion-capture data from our project on how flying snakes cross gaps.
Summer researcher
Summer researcher
Summer researcher
Marti worked as an animal care technician.
Natalie worked as an animal care technician.
Jordan worked as an animal care technician.
Hanna worked as an animal care technician.
Click on an image for more info on their research.
2017-18
Lakirah spent the summer of 2017 working on locomotion in skittering frogs with mentor Talia Weiss. She analyzed data and helped develop a new setup for measuring skittering in the lab. She was a physics major at Spelman College in Atlanta.
Jonas spent six months in the lab working on his undergraduate bachelor's thesis project at Westfälische Hochschule in Germany. Jonas conducted experiments to determine the friction coefficients of flying snakes on various substrates.
Mela analyzed motion-capture data from our project on how flying snakes cross gaps.
Suinda helped to characterize an unusual form of tongue flicking in flying snakes. The data for this project were collected by teacher Phil Hernandez.
Christie studied how rearing temperature affects the viscosity of insect hemolymph (blood) using Manduca sexta larvae. She was supported by a Fralin Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Anusha studied collapse patterns in insect tracheal systems.
Sofie helped with analyses of tracheal compression in insects.
Terrell analyzed high-speed video footage of ducks landing on water, and also helped collect experimental data in the field.
Maki analyzed motion-capture data from our project on how flying snakes cross gaps.
Tom helped Dr. Sharri Zamore during Fall 2017 to design a new virtual arena for studying the vision of flying snakes.
Morgan helped analyze motion-capture data from our project on how flying snakes cross gaps during Fall 2017.
Antara analyzed data on locomotion in skittering frogs.
Michelle studied the heart of insects.
Marti worked as an animal care technician.
Natalie worked as an animal care technician.
Jordan worked as an animal care technician.
Hanna worked as an animal care technician.
2016-17
Caroline analyzed synchrotron X-ray tomographic data of beetles, working on the link between respiration, circulation, and digestion. She also plays on the women's softball team.
Zack analyzed synchrotron X-ray movies of tracheal compression in beetles. He is also a sax player in the Virginia Tech Marching band.
Alok helped Dr. Sharri Zamore with experiments testing the visual capabilities of flying snakes.
Alex is conducted experiments to understand the 3D shape of flying snakes in the air with mentor Talia Weiss, and is helping with Michelle Graham's gap-bridging experiments. Alex is also an accomplished musician and has a second major in Music Composition.
Rohan helped with multiple projects in the lab, including skittering by frogs and jumping in flying snakes.
Yudi worked on multiple projects under Dr. Hodjat Pendar, including analysis of gut motion in insects and modeling of snake landings.
Alka analyzed data on locomotion in skittering frogs and jumping in flying snakes.
Lauren studied the visual system of flying snakes with mentor Dr. Sharri Zamore. She was also a neuroscience major -- 3 majors in total!
Ngozi helped with animal care of skittering frogs and flying snakes. She also worked on tracheal compression in beetles.
Rhea is a UVA engineering student who worked in the lab in the summer of 2016, helping with tomography and analysis of tracheal compression in beetles. We forgive her for being a Wahoo.
Tim analyzed tracheal compression and abdominal pumping in Madagascan hissing cockroaches with mentor Joel Garrett.
Adair helped with Michelle Graham's gap-bridging project with flying snakes. She is also an ESM major.
Katie assisted Melissa Kenny with experiments measuring the viscosity of insect hemolymph.
2015-16
Britt worked on the 3D geometry of insect respiratory systems, and will also conducted density and viscosity measurements of hemolymph with mentor Melissa Kenny.
Pat worked on several projects in the lab, including making new measurements of the viscosity of insect hemolymph.
Ngozi helped with animal care of skittering frogs and flying snakes.
Grant worked on multiple projects in the lab, with a focus on gliding and landing in flying snakes.
Tim analyzed tracheal compression and abdominal pumping in Madagascan hissing cockroaches with mentor Joel Garrett.
Rochelle worked primarily on tomography in the lab. She was the resident expert on reconstruction using TomoPy.
Mohsen collected and analyzed data on tracheal systems in beetle pupae, working with Dr. Hodjat Pendar.
2014-15
Britt worked on the 3D geometry of insect respiratory systems, and will also conducted density and viscosity measurements of hemolymph with mentor Melissa Kenny.
Pat worked on several projects in the lab, including making new measurements of the viscosity of insect hemolymph.
Ngozi helped with animal care of skittering frogs and flying snakes.
William helped out with several projects involving flying snake locomotion.
Sophie worked with mentor Joel Garrett on Madagascan hissing cockroaches. She might be the world's only engineer who is both a cheerleader and researcher of insects.
Rochelle worked primarily on tomography in the lab. She was the resident expert on reconstruction using TomoPy.