David Lentink

David Lentink is a Full Professor of Biomimetics at the University of Groningen, leading the Biomimetics Group within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. His research bridges biomechanics, aerospace engineering, and robotics, focusing on avian flight mechanics and bio-inspired aerial robotics. Previously at Stanford University, he pioneered the development of the Aerodynamic Force Platform and low-turbulence wind tunnels for animal flight studies.

• Education: PhD in Aerospace Engineering (Stanford), MSc in Mechanical Engineering (Delft), BSc in Mechanical Engineering (Delft).
• Research Interests: Understanding bird flight biomechanics to design advanced drones, studying evolutionary adaptations in flight, and developing biohybrid robots with real feathers.

Scientific Awards:

• Dutch Academic Year Prize for the Flight Artists (2013).
• World Economic Forum Young Scientist under 40 (2013).
• Alumnus of the Young Academy of The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Labs: The Lentink Lab at Groningen’s Linnaeusborg campus integrates bird aviaries, wind tunnels, and maker spaces for bio-inspired robotics development. His team collaborates globally with institutions like Stanford, TU/e, and Sorama.