Justin Jorge

PhD Candidate, Duke University

Justin is pursuing his interests in ecomechanics as a PhD candidate in the Patek Lab. Ecomechanics, a combined biomechanical and ecological approach, can be used to understand the mechanics behind biological motions and the ecological contexts in which they are used. Justin is particularly interested in the ecomechanics of ultrafast systems. These systems have diverse mechanisms yet, when viewed through the MURI team’s framework, share analogous key components. Justin’s work includes measuring energy transfer from a trap-jaw ant mandible strike into various substrates and measuring how seed shooting components of the witch hazel fruit change in response to different environments.