Austin Garner
Title: IB PhD Student
Research Specialty: Biological attachment, functional morphology, biomechanics, behavior, biomimetics
Dept/Program: Biology
Office: ASEC B210
Phone: 330-972-2839
Email: amg149@uakron.edu
Website: https://austinmgarner.com/
Biography
I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Akron in May 2016, with an interest in vertebrate zoology. My initial interest in research began after I participated in a study investigating gecko adhesion on wet fluoropolymer substrates in Dr. Peter Niewiarowski’s research lab. In the summer of 2014, I fully researched, designed, and executed a study investigating the effects of water on adhesive locomotion in geckos. After learning many critical research skills at the conclusion of both projects, I began rethinking my previous desire to pursue a career at a zoological institution or as a field biologist. With my newfound interest in research, my career goals changed dramatically and I decided to pursue a PhD in the Integrated Bioscience PhD Program here at the University of Akron. I continue my work on gecko adhesion with co-advisors, Dr. Peter Niewiarowski (Department of Biology) and Dr. Ali Dhinojwala (Department of Polymer Science).
Broadly, I am interested in examining the relationships between form, function, and environment in organismal systems through an interdisciplinary lens. In my research, I aim to integrate knowledge across the fields of functional morphology, biomechanics, materials science, ecology, and evolution to enhance our understanding of how organisms interface with their environment.
Most of my current research relates to biological attachment systems; there is a vast amount of variation in the environments and conditions in which biological attachment systems are employed and their form and function are even more diverse. I am interested in the morphological basis of organismal attachment, attachment performance in natural and ecologically relevant conditions, and the interrelationships between morphology, performance, and habitat use in biological attachment systems.
My doctoral work is composed of two overarching themes: (1) the functional ecomorphology of the adhesive setae of Anolis and (2) the impacts of surface roughness on gecko adhesion and substrate use. I am also interested in applying knoweldge of biological attachment systems to biomimetic attachment devices.
I was initially drawn to the Integrated Bioscience program because I had the opportunity to witness the productivity of integrated research during my undergraduate research experiences. Dr. Niewiarowski’s research group regularly collaborates with Dr. Ali Dhinojwala’s lab in the Department of Polymer Science, and that interaction allows us to investigate the gecko adhesive system from numerous directions, discover previously unknown characteristics and patterns, and answer more complex research questions.
Publications
*Denotes undergraduate co-author †Denotes invited manuscript ‡Denotes equal contribution of authors
Palecek, A.M., A.M. Garner, M.R. Klittich, A.Y. Stark, J.D. Scherger, C. Bernard, P.H. Niewiarowski, and A. Dhinojwala. Surface roughness characterization at multiple length scales reveals the complexity of gecko adhesion on wet and rough substrates. In review.
Russell, A.P. and A.M. Garner. Solutions to a Sticky Problem: Convergence of the Adhesive Systems of Geckos and Anoles (Reptilia: Squamata). In: Convergent Evolution. V. Bels and P. Legreneur (Eds.). In review.
Garner, A.M., A.M. Pamfilie, A. Dhinojwala, and P.H. Niewiarowski. In press. Tokay geckos (Gekkonidae: Gekko gecko) preferentially use substrates that elicit maximal adhesive performance. Journal of Experimental Biology. Accepted manuscript
Garner, A.M. and A.P. Russell. 2021. Revisiting the classification of squamate adhesive setae: historical, morphological, and functional perspectives. Royal Society Open Science 8: 202039. PDF
Russell, A.P. and A.M. Garner. 2021. Setal field transects, evolutionary transitions and gecko-anole convergence provide insights into the fundamentals of form and function of the digital adhesive system of lizards. Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering 6:1-17. PDF
Garner, A.M.‡, M.C. Wilson‡, C. Wright*, A.P. Russell, P.H. Niewiarowski, and A. Dhinojwala. 2020. The same but different: setal arrays of anoles and geckos indicate alternative approaches to achieving similar adhesive effectiveness. Journal of Anatomy. PDF
Garner, A.M.‡, A.M. Pamfilie‡*, E.J. Hamad*, R. Kindig*, J.T. Taylor*, C.K. Unsworth, and P.H. Niewiarowski. 2020. Home-field advantage: Native gecko exhibits improved exertion capacity and locomotor ability in structurally complex environments relative to its invasive counterpart. Frontiers in Zoology 17(23): 1-11. PDF
Garner, A.M., C. Buo, J.M. Piechowski, A.M. Pamfilie*, S.R. Stefanovic, A. Dhinojwala, and P.H. Niewiarowski. 2019. Digital hyperextension has no influence on the active self-drying of gecko adhesive subdigital pads. Journal of Experimental Zoology – Part A. PDF
Cohn, E.*‡, P. Cole*‡, A. Haymaker*‡, A.M. Garner, and R.L. Londraville. 2019. Response to Underwater Laser Pointer in the Orange-Finned Anemonefish Amphiprion chrysopterus and Three-spot Damselfish Dascyllus trimaculatus. Journal of Fish Biology. PDF
Gamel, K.M., A.M. Garner, and B.E. Flammang. 2019. Bioinspired remora adhesive disc offers insight into evolution. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics 14(5): 1-8. PDF
Niewiarowski, P.H., A. Dhinojwala, and A.M. Garner. 2019. Adapting a thermal physical model approach to estimate gecko adhesion performance opportunity and constraint: How rough could it be? Integrative and Comparative Biology 59(1): 203-213. PDF
†Garner, A.M., M.C. Wilson, A.P. Russell, A. Dhinojwala, and P.H. Niewiarowski. 2019. Going Out on a Limb: How Investigation of the Anoline Adhesive System can Enhance our Understanding of Fibrillar Adhesion. Integrative and Comparative Biology 59(1): 61-69. PDF
McInerney, S.J., B. Khakipoor, A.M. Garner, T. Houette‡, C.K. Unsworth‡, A. Rupp, N. Weiner, J.F.V. Vincent, J.K.S. Nagel, and P.H. Niewiarowski. 2018. E2BMO: Facilitating User Interaction with a BioMimetic Ontology via Semantic Translation and Interface Design. Designs 2(4): 53. PDF
Garner, A.M., S.M. Lopez, and P.H. Niewiarowski. 2017. Brown anole (Anolis sagrei) adhesive forces remain unaffected by partial claw clipping. Acta Herpetologica 12(2): 133-137. PDF
Garner, A.M., A.Y. Stark, S.A. Thomas, and P.H. Niewiarowski. 2017. Geckos go the Distance: Water’s Effect on the Speed of Adhesive Locomotion in Geckos. Journal of Herpetology 51:240-244. PDF
Education
- B.Sc. in Biology, magna cum laude; The University of Akron