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Presentation at SICB 2025 Atlanta

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I presented a talk today at SICB (Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology) 2025 in Atlanta, GA, as part of the Division of Comparative Biomechanics’ Best Student Presentation session.

Poster Presentation at SICB 2024

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I presented a poster at SICB 2024 (Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology) in Seattle, WA. The poster is about ‘A model of the cockroach antenna links tactile features to distinct motifs on a soft sensor’.

portfolio

publications

A model of the cockroach antenna links tactile features to distinct motifs on a soft sensor

Published in Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Seattle, 2024 , January 03, 2024

Recommended citation: L. Meng, P. McDonnell, K. Jayaram, and J.-M. Mongeau. “A model of the cockroach antenna links tactile features to distinct motifs on a soft sensor.” Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Seattle, 2024 [Poster]. Finalist for best student poster

research

Fly Behavior Analysis for Wing Damage Compensation during Flight

Published:

Conducted experiments and data analysis on tethered flies to study compensatory flight mechanisms under wing damage. Acquired and processed 11 datasets, reconstructed 3D flight behavior for 16 flies, and derived wing Euler angles using custom reconstruction software. Contributed analysis supporting Dr. Wael Salem’s PhD dissertation on insect flight biomechanics.

Biomechanics of Insect Antenna

Published:

This project investigates how the structure and material properties of insect antenna shape tactile sensing. Through experiments, Micro-CT imaging, 3D reconstruction, and finite element modeling, I showed that the antenna flagellum functions as a kinematic chain system with regional specializations that enhance flexibility and prevent buckling. These findings provide a mechanistic framework linking antenna mechanics to proprioceptive strain sensing.

Neuro-Mechanical Computational Model of Insect Antennae

Published:

Developed a physics-based model of cockroach antennae (MuJoCo) to study how mechanical deflections generate neural responses for tactile perception. Validated model predictions against extracellular nerve recordings and used spiking neural networks (SNN) to classify tactile features, demonstrating efficient spike-based coding for tactile sensing.

talks

teaching

ME370: Vibrations of Mechanical Systems

Undergraduate course, The Pennsylvania State University, Mechanical Engineering, 2021

  • Held weekly office hours (4 hours per week) to support student learning and address course-related questions.
  • Designed and graded homework assignments, ensuring alignment with course objectives and student learning outcomes.
  • Guided students through hands-on projects focused on designing and analyzing vibration absorbers, providing technical assistance and feedback.

ME370: Vibrations of Mechanical Systems

Undergraduate course, The Pennsylvania State University, Mechanical Engineering, 2022

  • Held weekly office hours (2 hours per week) to support student learning and address course-related questions.
  • Graded homework assignments, ensuring alignment with course objectives and student learning outcomes.
  • Guided students through hands-on projects focused on designing and analyzing vibration absorbers, providing technical assistance and feedback.

ME370: Vibrations of Mechanical Systems

Undergraduate course, The Pennsylvania State University, Mechanical Engineering, 2022

  • Held weekly office hours (4 hours per week) to support student learning and address course-related questions.
  • Graded homework assignments, ensuring alignment with course objectives and student learning outcomes.
  • Guided students through hands-on projects focused on designing and analyzing vibration absorbers, providing technical assistance and feedback.