Justin is pursuing his interests in biomechanics as a PhD student in the Patek Lab. He finished his undergraduate degree with a B.A. in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2017 where he worked in Dr. Mimi Koehl's lab to investigate the biomechanics of single cell predators feeding on choanoflagellates. Justin is currently interested in ultra-fast movements in nature, specifically those of trap-jaw ants and seed shooting plants such as the witch hazel. Specifically, he is interested in developing new techniques to track the flow of energy throughout these motions as well as uncovering how, mechanistically, these motions are produced. Justin hopes to develop new ways of thinking about the generation of fast motions through his research that can potentially be used to improve technology.
Photo credit: Clarence Burke Photography
