Tyson L. Hedrick

Tyson L. Hedrick is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also serves as Associate Chair for Space. His research focuses on the biomechanical and aerodynamic principles underlying animal flight, integrating experimental and computational approaches to understand how organisms achieve robust locomotion in dynamic environments.

Key research areas include the aerodynamics of bird and insect flight, neuromuscular control mechanisms, and computational modeling of organismal biomechanics. His work explores how biological systems like the Manduca sexta moth or red-tailed hawks stabilize flight amid perturbations, leveraging both empirical data and advanced simulations.

Recent studies highlight his team's investigations into flight efficiency in groups (e.g., flocking birds), wind gradient exploitation by foraging skimmers, and the interplay between sensory input and motor output in flight control. Hedrick's lab employs cutting-edge techniques such as multi-camera videography and reduced-order modeling to dissect flight dynamics.

He has secured grants including the NSF EAGER/Collaborative Research project on insect flight stability. His lab website details ongoing projects on topics ranging from dragonfly chase dynamics to gliding lizard biomechanics.