Welcome to the Comparative Biomaterials Lab at Chapman University led by Dr. Douglas Fudge. We study a wide range of materials made by animals, including nano-scale filaments within cells, slimes secreted to ward off predators, and large structures like the keratinous plates of baleen whales. Our work on the biomechanics of predator defense in hagfishes has led us to explore many other aspects of hagfish biology, including bioenergetics, burrowing behavior and biomechanics, reproduction, and biodiversity. Recent work in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador led to the discovery and description of four new species of hagfishes.
We are also committed to applying what we learn from the study of biomaterials to real-life challenges. Animals make outstanding materials for a wide variety of functions without the benefit of petroleum and without fouling their environments. Our expertise in biomaterials creates rich opportunities to collaborate with engineers on bio-inspired design projects, including efforts to produce biomimetic hagfish slime.
To learn more about our research, click on the links below and check out our Publications.
Fudge Lab News
New paper in Nature Communications
Check out the new paper from our wonderful colleagues at U Illinois Urbana-Champaign on a method for printing very small fibers that could be used to mimic hagfish slime. A spiral structure produced using embedded 3D printing. Image courtesy of M. Tanver Hossain.
Hagfishing on the R/V Yellowfin
The Fudge Lab spent a day on the water with Coyote Peterson and the good folks from Brave Wilderness on the R/V Yellowfin on October 4. Check out the hagfish and slime themed episode on Coyote's YouTube channel called "Yuck! What Creature Made this Slime!". Photo by...
Dr. Fudge interviewed in Cornell Alumni magazine about the Shoals Marine Lab
You can read the full article here.
Interview on The Deep-Sea Podcast.
Dr. Fudge was interviewed about hagfish biology on the The Deep-Sea Podcast by Dr. Thomas Linley.
New paper in JEB on hagfish burrowing.
The Fudge Lab recently published the first paper on hagfish burrowing biomechanics in The Journal of Experimental Biology. This was a collaboration among lots of students and postdocs and got its start during a field course at the Shoals Marine Lab.
Research Projects in the Fudge Lab





