Research Interests
Biologybiomechanicsbiomimeticsaquatic mammalsswimmingenegetics
Opportunities
Work Study Positions Available: No
Grant Funded Positions Available: No
Course-Credit Research Opportunities Available: No
Volunteer Research Positions Available: No
Biography
Dr. Frank Fish is a Professor of Biology at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he has been on the faculty since 1980. He received a B.A. in Biology from SUNY Oswego in 1975. He completed a M.Sc. in 1977 and a Ph.D. in 1980 from the Zoology Department of Michigan State University
Dr. Fish has served as chairperson of his department at West Chester University. He was the chairperson of the Division of Vertebrate Morphology of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. He is currently an associate editor for the journal Marine Mammal Science, and he served on the editorial board of the journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics.
Dr. Fish's research is focused on the energetics and hydrodynamics of aquatic locomotion by vertebrates and on biomimetic applications. He has been funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research. Recent projects have included examinations of the evolution of swimming modes in aquatic mammals, energetics and maneuverability of aquatic animals, hydrodynamic design of biological control surfaces, and analysis of animal swimming for biomimetic AUV design.
Dr. Fish has appeared on the PBS series Evolution, the BBC production Walking with Prehistoric Beasts, which was broadcast on the Discovery Channel, Predator X, which was broadcast on the History Channel, and he has been featured on the science television show Daily Planet, which was broadcast on the Discovery Channel Canada.
Dr. Fish is the president of the WhalePower corporation that is attempting to design windmills, fans, pumps and compressors utilizing the tubercle leading edge of the humpback whale flipper.
