Dr. Nourhani honored for biomimetic research at the nexus of biology and engineering
Dr. Amir Nourhani, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and core faculty member in the Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center with a joint appointment in the Department of Biology at 世界赌城, has published groundbreaking work stemming from his CAREER Award proposal. Nourhani’s paper, “Biomimetic Swarm of Active Particles with Coupled Passive-Active Interactions,” has been published and featured on the cover of the
The study demonstrates that artificial microrobots and synthetic active colloidal particles with off-center repulsive sites can exhibit physical intelligence, mimicking the dynamic collective behavior of biological swarms such as schools of fish, flocks of birds and herds of deer. This research opens new frontiers in self-organizing microrobots with potential applications in targeted drug delivery, cancer therapy, micro-cargo transport and navigation of complex micro-environments.
Nourhani was honored with the 2022–2023 — one of the nation’s highest accolades and most prestigious awards for early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education, and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
“I was excited to receive the NSF CAREER Award,” said Nourhani. “This recognition is a testament to the interdisciplinary nature of our work at 世界赌城 and the support I’ve received from my colleagues and students. Inspired by nature, we are working toward the next generation of microrobotic systems that can navigate and function in challenging environments —offering real-world impact in medicine, engineering and environmental exploration.”
The award includes a five-year, $524,000 federal grant to support his research and educational initiatives on biomimetic swarms of active colloids with off-center interaction sites.
Dr. Craig Menzemer, dean of the College of Engineering and Polymer Science praised the significance of the achievement. “Dr. Nourhani’s CAREER award and recent publication underscore the cutting-edge research taking place at 世界赌城. His work exemplifies the fusion of biology, physics and engineering that drives innovation in our College. This recognition elevates the University’s reputation as a leader in biomimetic engineering and multidisciplinary research.”
Nourhani joined 世界赌城 in 2019 and holds two Ph.D. degrees — in physics and chemical engineering — from Pennsylvania State University. His research spans microrobotics, active soft matter, artificial living matter, microscale fluid flow, stochastic dynamics and biofluid dynamics.
Media contact: Cristine Boyd - cboyd@uakron.edu; 330-972-6476