Richard Bomphrey

Richard Bomphrey is a Professor of Comparative Biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), University of London, where he leads the Structure and Motion Laboratory within the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences. He previously served as Interim Vice Principal for Research (2021–2022) and Associate Dean for Research (2022–2023), highlighting his leadership in academic research. His work bridges biology and engineering, focusing on animal locomotion, particularly flight in insects and birds.

Richard earned his biological sciences degree from the University of Exeter and completed his DPhil in biomechanics at the University of Oxford. He held postdoctoral positions at Oxford and the University of Bath before securing an EPSRC Fellowship, which facilitated his transition to RVC in 2013.

His research explores evolutionary biology through the lens of functional morphology, unsteady aerodynamics, and fluid-structure interaction. He investigates how flying animals sense, stabilize, and control flight, with implications for bio-inspired unmanned air systems. His lab employs advanced techniques such as wind tunnels, high-speed videography, volumetric particle image velocimetry (PIV), and virtual reality chambers for tethered insects.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong focus on insect and bird flight mechanics, vortex dynamics, biomimetics, and bio-inspired engineering. Key themes include leading-edge vortices, wing morphology, flow sensing in mosquitoes, and aerodynamic adaptations in raptors and dragonflies. His interdisciplinary approach integrates experimental biology with computational modeling and engineering principles.

• Wellcome Trust New Scientist Popular Science Writing Prize
• Daily Telegraph STEM Hero of the Month

He actively mentors students and leads a vibrant research team, supervising PhD and Master’s students. His outreach includes science festivals, public lectures, and media appearances (BBC, SKY, Discovery Channel). He has contributed to major public engagement initiatives such as the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition and UCL’s bio-inspired robotics summer school.

His laboratory, the Structure and Motion Lab, is equipped with state-of-the-art tools for biomechanical analysis, including tomographic PIV and a virtual flight arena for insects. The team investigates both external flight dynamics and internal flows, such as haemodynamics in abdominal aortic aneurysms, demonstrating the breadth of their biomechanical inquiry.