Talia Moore

Talia Moore is an Assistant Professor in Robotics at the University of Michigan, specializing in robot-animal interactions and the ecological, evolutionary, and control aspects of arrhythmic motion in animals and robots. Her research bridges robotics engineering with biological studies to create bio-inspired robots for ecological and evolutionary hypothesis testing. She leads the EMBiR lab, which focuses on designing robots to explore how traits influence survival in natural environments. Key research areas include modular robotics, biomimetic design, and the biomechanics of animal locomotion.

Dr. Moore has pioneered studies on tail functions in mammals and robots, as well as the application of machine vision for behavioral analysis in animals like jerboas. Her work integrates computational modeling (e.g., ArborSim for musculoskeletal systems) with experimental robotics to address challenges in dynamic environments. Recent projects include developing the Robot of Theseus modular platform and exploring predator-prey dynamics through robotic mimicry.

Her scientific accolades include the Robotics Faculty Award. She actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in robotics and biomechanics through independent research opportunities. Collaborative efforts in open-source tools for natural history research and virtual expeditions aim to broaden student participation in ecological studies.

Dr. Moore’s lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, blending biomechanics, material science, and computer vision to advance robotics while deepening biological understanding. Current focuses include tail-assisted control mechanisms, soft robotics actuators (e.g., HASEL), and the evolutionary drivers of morphological adaptations in desert rodents and snakes.