About the LeDuc Lab

Our lab works on mechanics of machines and the wonders of nature intersect. While our lab members have come from a variety of backgrounds (mechanical engineering, biology, chemical engineering, material science, physics, computer engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, etc.), our lab approaches this intersection by envisioning cells and molecules as "systems" that can be investigated with some of the same fundamental approaches used on machines such as planes and automobiles looking for unifying principles. These systems range from mammalian cell to microorganism to developmental biology systems (e.g. mammalian cells, magnetic bacteria, energy generating bacteria, Xenopus laevis) and applies principles from mechanical engineering fields (e.g. solid mechanics, control theory, fluidics, heat transfer, design, etc.) to understand how these principles may apply across diverse nature-based systems. We also work on linking mechanics to biochemistry at the cellular and molecular levels through examining structural regulation as well as on novel approaches to technology development through focusing on nature inspired design principles at the molecular and cellular levels. We pursue these goals through developing and utilizing nanotechnology, microtechnology, computational biology, and control-feedback theory. As well as a strong interest in building new systems from the knowledge that we obtain in a similar thought process as we use to build a new machine.