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
Fudge Lab receives NSF funding
The Fudge Lab was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for a project entitled "Biogenesis and evolution of hagfish slime and slime glands." The project is a collaboration with Dr. David Plachetzki at the University of New Hampshire and will investigate...
Orange High School students visit Fudge Lab for “Inspiring Biology”
Fourteen students from Orange High School spent a week with Dr. Fudge, Charlie McCord, and mentor Cathy Trejo learning about Bio-Inspired design. The program, called Inspiring Biology, included visits by biologists Misty Paig-Tran (Cal State Fullerton), Kate Loudon...
Sarah Schorno’s paper on hagfish slime gland refilling is out!
How long does it take for hagfish to recharge it's slime glands? Sarah Schorno's new paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology has the answer for you.
Hagfish vs. Shark Paper is out!
Our paper on the biomechanics of hagfish interactions with toothy predators is now out in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. This project was led by U of Guelph MSc student Sarah Boggett, Guelph undergraduate Jean-Luc Stiles and was a collaboration with Adam...
Welcome Gaurav!
Dr. Gaurav Jain will be joining the Fudge Lab in February to work on a hagfish slime biomimetics project. Gaurav got his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech and he'll be coming to us from his previous position at NYU.
Research Projects in the Fudge Lab
