Henry Fu, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been elevated to the grade of Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This grade of ASME membership recognizes exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession and to ASME.
Professor Fu was recognized for his contributions through scholarly and educational activities in the area of micron-scale fluid mechanics and biologically inspired swimming, as well as application of these fundamentals to microbiotics.
“We use experiments, theory, and computational modeling to study the swimming of bacteria and plankton, as well as their interactions with each other, food, and habitats,” said Fu. “What we learn affects their efficacy in establishing infections and colonizing new habitats, reproduction and infertility, and their ecological roles. Recently, we have been interested in how deformability of cells and their appendages affects their motility. We also apply the principles we learn to engineered microrobotic systems, identifying key ways in which artificial systems are similar and different from microorganisms. These allow us to develop new capabilities and control strategies for microrobots that have applications in drug delivery.”
In addition to his research, Fu has mentored dozens of undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who have gone on to successful careers. He and his mentees have contributed to numerous journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings that have advanced his field of research.
“It’s great to get positive feedback for your work,” said Fu. “As always with awards for your career, a lot of the credit goes to the students, advisees, collaborators, and institutions I’ve worked with throughout the years. Research is such a collaborative endeavor these days and it’s not possible without a group of people working together and the infrastructure that supports it.”
You can learn more about Professor Fu’s work through the Fluids and Biomechanics Lab website.