Jasmine Nirody, Ph.D.

Nirody is interested in how structures (e.g., protein complexes, bacteria, animals) move through fluid environments. She uses both theory and experiments to understand the challenges and adaptations associated with fluid locomotion across scales. In the past, Nirody has worked on locomotive strategies in snakes on slippery surfaces, and gecko escape mechanisms at the air-water interface. Currently, she is interested in the mechanics and energetics of molecular motors including the ribosome, which is responsible for protein production in the cell, and the bacterial flagellar motor, which drives swimming in several bacteria, including pathogens like E. coli. Recently, she has also become interested in collective locomotion, such as that of dense suspensions of bacteria or flocks of migratory birds. Her research aims to provide insight into how nature has shaped its best swimmers, and how we can harness this knowledge to engineer systems that can navigate a wider variety of environments.

Nirody is also a fellow of All Souls College, University of Oxford.