The Applied Dynamic Mechanics Laboratory at the University of Connecticut investigates how molecular structure, mechanical forces, and interactions among individual components shape biological and autonomous systems. Our research combines experiments, mathematical modeling, computational simulation, and machine learning.
In cellular mechanics, we study how membrane and cytoskeletal organization govern the deformation, adhesion, protein diffusion, and stability of red blood cells and neurons. Atomic force microscopy, force spectroscopy, advanced fluorescence microscopy, and coarse-grained molecular dynamics connect molecular mechanisms to cellular behavior in health, disease, and injury, including sickle cell disease and axonal damage.
Our robotics research develops compact autonomous underwater vehicles (mini-AUVs), integrating computer vision, deep reinforcement learning, and docking systems. Simulations and underwater experiments support navigation, obstacle avoidance, and multi-agent coordination for inspection of submerged hulls, ports, and bridge foundations.
In applied quantum computing, we explore hybrid quantum–classical methods for swarm navigation and investigate how local decisions produce collective behavior. We also investigate quantum reservoir computing for temporal information processing, swarm dynamics, and electroencephalogram (EEG) classification in epilepsy and mild traumatic brain injury.
Across these areas, our goal is to establish predictive models, explain complex behavior, and develop experimentally grounded methods that advance cellular biophysics, intelligent autonomy, and efficient computation.
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