Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology for FY 2009

本行动资助NSF 2009年度博士后研究奖学金。该奖学金支持珍妮弗·弗兰克的一项名为“研究拍打脊椎动物飞行的计算机模拟”的研究和培训计划。这项研究的主办机构是布朗大学，赞助科学家是肯尼斯·布鲁尔。本项目利用借鉴航空工程的计算流体动力学（CFD）技术研究脊椎动物飞行的升力和推进力。由于各种有效的推进机制，动物在空气和水中的运动引起了极大的兴趣。特别是，昆虫和鸟类的扑翼飞行产生了传统的空气动力学原理无法解释的敏捷机动。这项研究使用了一种称为大涡模拟的数值技术，该技术能够模拟与脊椎动物，特别是大型鸟类和蝙蝠拍打飞行有关的不稳定湍流。与其他方法相比，这些模拟可以更好地可视化和预测翅膀周围的非定常流体动力学，从而更好地理解脊椎动物如何产生升力。训练的一个组成部分包括与进化生物学家和实验学家密切合作，他们用蝙蝠进行各种风洞实验，以及模拟动物飞行中翅膀的膜和结构。这种密切的互动有助于建模和仿真工作，并发展了更好地将计算科学与生物学研究结合起来的技能。跨学科的研究拓宽了研究员的研究专长，并有助于发展与实验生物学家的合作。它还提供了宝贵的教学和指导机会，有利于未来的学术生涯。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2009. The fellowship supports a research and training plan entitled "Computer Simulations to Investigate Flapping Vertebrate Flight" for Jennifer Frank. The host institution for this research is Brown University and the sponsoring scientist is Kenneth Breuer.This project investigates the lift and propulsion of vertebrate flight using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) techniques borrowed from aeronautical engineering. Animal locomotion through air and water is of great interest due to the variety of efficient propulsion mechanisms. In particular, the flapping flight of insects and birds produces agile maneuvers that cannot be explained with traditional aerodynamic principles. This research uses a numerical technique called large-eddy simulation, which is capable of simulating the unsteady, turbulent flow associated with flapping flight of vertebrates, especially larger birds and bats. These simulations give a better visualization and prediction of the unsteady fluid dynamics surrounding the wing than other methods, and thus a better understanding of how vertebrates produce lift.An integral part of the training involves working closely with the evolutionary biologists and experimentalists who perform a variety of wind tunnel experiments with bats, as well as membranes and structures that model aspects of the animal's wing in flight. This close interaction aids in the modeling and simulation efforts and develops skills to better interface computational science with biological research. The interdisciplinary research broadens the Fellow's research expertise and helps develop collaborations with experimental biologists. It also provides valuable teaching and mentoring opportunities beneficial to a future academic career.