Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 2007

Skeletal mechanics Swimming kinematics Bioinspired design Biomaterials

My research is in comparative biomechanics and functional morphology. My research focuses on understanding the mechanics of stiff biological materials; in particular, I am interested in cartilaginous vertebral column materials, mechanics, and how mechanics impact swimming speed and style. I also explore questions about skeletal system impacts on physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution.

Differential tree mortality in response to severe drought: evidence for long‐term vegetation shifts RC Mueller, CM Scudder, ME Porter, R Talbot Trotter, CA Gehring, ... Journal of Ecology 93 (6), 1085-1093 Material properties and biochemical composition of mineralized vertebral cartilage in seven elasmobranch species (Chondrichthyes) ME Porter, JL Beltrán, TJ Koob, AP Summers Journal of Experimental Biology 209 (15), 2920-2928 Testing biomimetic structures in bioinspired robots: how vertebrae control the stiffness of the body and the behavior of fish-like swimmers JH Long, NM Krenitsky, SF Roberts, J Hirokawa, J de Leeuw, ME Porter Integrative and comparative biology, icr020 Turning maneuvers in sharks: predicting body curvature from axial morphology ME Porter, CM Roque, JH Long Journal of morphology 270 (8), 954-965 The contribution of mineral to the material properties of vertebral cartilage from the smooth-hound shark Mustelus californicus ME Porter, TJ Koob, AP Summers Journal of Experimental Biology 210 (19), 3319-3327 Go reconfigure: how fish change shape as they swim and evolve JH Long, ME Porter, RG Root, CW Liew Integrative and comparative biology 50 (6), 1120-1139 Inspired by sharks: a biomimetic skeleton for the flapping, propulsive tail of an aquatic robot JH Long, T Koob, J Schaefer, A Summers, K Bantilan, S Grotmol, M Porter Marine Technology Society Journal 45 (4), 119-129 An electric ray inspired biomimetic autonomous underwater vehicle P Krishnamurthy, F Khorrami, J De Leeuw, ME Porter, K Livingston, ... American Control Conference (ACC), 2010, 5224-5229