The Biological Fluids Group at UNC

PI: Laura Miller


Insect Photos: Copyright © 2008 Stephen Luk

Welcome!

The focus of our research group is to investigate regime changes in the fluid dynamic environment of organisms as they grow or shrink in size over evolutionary or developmental time. In particular, we are interested in the efficiency of various mechanisms of fluid transport and locomotion. Our approach to these problems is to use kinematic and morphometric data to design physical models and numerical simulations. These models and simulations are then be used to better understand the fluid dynamic forces experienced by organisms. Our work focues two model systems: flight adaptations in the smallest flying insects, such as thrips and parasitoid wasps, and the mechanism of blood pumping during development in the embryonic heart and over evolutionary time in the vertebrate heart.

Please visit the links below to learn more about all of the projects going on in our group.


Flight in the Smallest Insects




Tiny Animal Swimming




Cardiac Fluid Dynamics




Flow in the Endothelial Surface Layer




Plant Biomechanics



For more information, please contact:

Laura A. Miller
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
CB 3250 Phillips Hall Rm 305A
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3250
phone: 919-843-8194
e-mail: lam9 "at" email (dot) unc (dot) edu