Main Page
This is the homepage of the Georgia Tech node of the international Physics of Living Systems (PoLS) student research network. The goal of this network is to foster interaction and collaboration among PoLS researchers within Georgia Tech and across institutes. Six core faculty members from the Schools of Biology, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering lead the Georgia Tech PoLS node.
The NSF Physics of Living Systems program sponsors research "exploring the most fundamental physical processes that living systems utilize to perform their functions in dynamic and diverse environments." The aim of PoLS research is to advance our understanding of the living world in a quantitative way, while also seeking to expand the intellectual range of physics paying through the lessons learned from the biological study.
At Georgia Tech PoLS research is carried out across a diversity of biological scales: single-molecule ⇒ cellular ⇒ organismal biophysics. Both theoretical and experiment biophysics research is conducted by core faculty members and affiliated faculty.
Signing-up for the email list
To receive email notification about upcoming GaTech-PoLS events and reminders about the weekly talks, sign-up for the email list. You can sign-up by simply sending a message
To: pols-request@lists.gatech.edu Subject: subscribe
You should immediately receive a response telling you that you have joined.
Announcements
- For those students interested, the Siements Competition in Math, Science & Technology will be held on the Georgia Tech campus this weekend. As described on the competition website "America’s next generation of young innovators presents their awe-inspiring research projects to expert university judges." More information can be found https://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/student-competitionsiemens.
Lunch & Learn 11/15/2012 THE MECHANICS OF SNAKE LOCOMOTION Hamid Marvi (Hu Lab) Snakes are one of the worlds most versatile locomotors, at ease slithering through rubble or ratcheting up vertical tree trunks. In our experimental study, we measured the frictional properties of several species of snakes as well as the kinematics of their locomotion. We conducted experiments to show that snakes’ scales can dig into the underlying surface to prevent sliding. We used this novel paradigm, the active control of scales to modify frictional properties, to build Scalybot 1 and 2, two snake-like robots with individually controlled sets of belly scales. In our supporting theoretical study, we developed a dynamic model of snakes’ locomotion to predict its speed and the forces it applies to its environment. We focus on common modes of a snake’s motion such as concertina, rectilinear, and sidewinding.
Core faculty list
| PI | Website | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel I. Goldman | http://crablab.gatech.edu | daniel.goldman[at]physics.gatech.edu |
| Jennifer Curtis | http://curtisresearch.gatech.edu/ | jennifer.curtis[at]physics.gatech.edu |
| Kurt Wiesenfeld | Department profile | kurt.wiesenfeld[at] physics.gatech.edu |
| Joshua Weitz | http://www.physics.gatech.edu/user/joshua-weitz | jsweitz[at] gatech.edu |
| Harold Kim | http://www.physics.gatech.edu/user/harold-kim | harold.kim [at] physics.gatech.edu |
| David Hu | http://www-old.me.gatech.edu/hu/ | hu [at] me.gatech.edu |
Support
This network is supported by the NSF Physics of Living Systems program within the physics division. The student research network is a part of the NSF Science across virtual institutes program to encourage interaction among researchers across many universities.
