Welcome to the Biologically Informed Research and Design (BIRD) Lab at UC Davis led by Dr. Christina Harvey (she/her/hers).

We study how, when, and why animals adjust their morphology in flight.

Our research aims to inspire highly maneuverable and adaptable uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and to advance our understanding of biological flight. The work integrates biological and engineering knowledge and uses both experimental and numerical techniques.

Dr. Christina Harvey (front row, right) and Dr. Michelle Hawkins, Director of the California Raptor Center (front, left) Back row: Graduate student Francisco Jackson, postdoctoral researcher Dr. Alfonso Martinez and graduate student Kaleb Bordner. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis)

Students in Harvey's Biologically Informed Research and Design, or BIRD, lab set up a wind tunnel experiment using a bird's wing shape. From left to right: Kiran Weston, Huanglun (Adam) Zhu, Francisco Jackson. (Steven Trinh/UC Davis)

Students in Harvey's Biologically Informed Research and Design, or BIRD, lab set up a wind tunnel experiment using a bird's wing shape. From left to right: Kiran Weston, Huanglun (Adam) Zhu, Francisco Jackson. (Steven Trinh/UC Davis)