School of Physics Professor Daniel Goldman has been named a 2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow for his groundbreaking research at the interface of biomechanics, robotics, and physics. He joins the ranks of the nation’s most distinguished leaders in science, engineering, and innovation, and is among the seven Georgia Tech faculty named for 2024.

“This year's Fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities...their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering,” says Sudip S. Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. 

A self-professed physicist by training and temperament, Goldman’s research investigates how organisms such as centipedes, snakes, worms, and even plant roots navigate the complexities of the natural world. What makes his research unique is that rather than studying organisms in simple environments, he studies them in environments that more closely mimic their natural habitats such as sandy, loose terrain.

The former Dunn Family Professor in the School of Physics, Goldman has also earned the NSF CAREER Award, DARPA Young Investigator Award, an American Physical Society Fellowship, and the Georgia Power Professor of Excellence Award.

“Becoming an AAAS Fellow is an incredible honor,” says Goldman. “However, in many ways I feel I’m just the person representing the results of more than 20 years of effort from my students and post-docs, as well as my mentors who helped me find this incredibly interesting field of study.”

Pioneering robophysical modeling

Nearly 20 years ago, Goldman became fascinated with studying the physics of how a small lizard wriggled through sand. Today, he has carved a unique niche in biological physics, including advancing a robophysical modeling approach incorporating the animal’s motion pattern to supplement understanding of principles related to organism movement. The approach has led to his recent development of limbless and multi-legged robots for use in agricultural efforts and search and rescue.

Now, Goldman directs the CRAB (Complex Rheology and Biomechanics) Lab, which focuses on developing robots beyond traditional bio-inspired robots through a strong physics-based perspective to biological questions.

“As a physicist, I try to find the underlying principle governing certain phenomena,” says Goldman. “We’ve been successful in discovering common patterns of movement and applying a beautiful theoretical framework called ‘gauge kinematics’ where we describe tiny nematode worms, sand swimming lizards, and multi-legged centipedes with the same language.”

The practical applications of Goldman’s research are already paving the way for innovations in robotics ranging from space research to agriculture. Goldman’s startup, Ground Control Robotics, has started building robots that can navigate the difficult terrain of crop fields, identify weeds and other pests, and address challenges like herbicide resistance, labor shortages, and plant disease.

“The journey from studying that small lizard swimming in sand to developing robots for agriculture exemplifies the often-unforeseen pathways of scientific research,” says Goldman. “The principles unlocked by observing these seemingly insignificant creatures have proven crucial in understanding how various organisms and subsequently, robots can effectively move through complex environments.

I can’t wait to see where the efforts of my incredible group members take us next!”