Abstract: Dr. Temel’s work mainly focuses on understanding the dynamics and energetics of extreme motions in small-scale natural and synthetic systems. Small-scale biological systems achieve extraordinary accelerations, speeds, and forces that can be repeated with minimal costs throughout the life of the organism. Zeynep uses analytical and computational models as well as physical prototypes to learn about these systems, test hypotheses, and explore bio-inspired designs. She develops advanced manufacturing techniques, leverages material properties to create embedded sensors and actuators, and explores device-environment interactions with various media and contact surfaces, to investigate questions related to design, material selection, sensing, actuation, and locomotion of small-scale robotic systems. 

Brief Bio: Zeynep Temel is an Assistant Professor at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, with a courtesy appointment at Mechanical Engineering Department. Previusly, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University (SEAS) in the Microrobotics Lab of Prof. Robert Wood and at Brown University in the lab of Prof. Kenny Breuer. She received her B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (Turkey), M.Sc. degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Siegen (Germany), and Ph.D. degree in Mechatronics Engineering from Sabanci University (Turkey). 

Host: Sebastian Scherer

Point of Contact: Stephanie Matvey (smatvey@cs.cmu.edu)