Dr. Zi Chen’s research interests range from solid mechanics and material science to biomechanics and mechanobiology, covering such diverse topics as mechanical instabilities of materials, energy harvesting devices, biomimetic robotics, origami structures, nanofabrication, mechanics of morphogenesis in biological systems (embryonic development, biofilm growth, etc.), and cell biomechanics (e.g., epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cancer cell migration).
Mechanical forces play a key role in the shaping of versatile morphologies, especially chiral structures, in both natural and engineered systems. Understanding the role of mechanical stresses and strains is key to deciphering morphogenesis, growth, and collective cell migration. The progress of mechanics in these aspects will facilitate understanding of fundamental problems in mathematics, physics and biology, as well as advance technology of designing smart, stimuli-responsive materials and devices with broad applications in mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering.