Robert Full, Ph.D. completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY Buffalo in 1979. He also did his graduate work at SUNY Buffalo, receiving a master's degree in 1982 and a doctoral degree in 1984. He held a research and teaching post doctoral position at The University of Chicago from 1984 to 1986 during which time he did research at Harvard University. In 1986 he joined the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley as an Assistant Professor of Zoology. He was promoted to Associate Professor of Integrative Biology in 1991, and to Full Professor of Integrative Biology in 1995, a position he holds today. In 1996 he was given a Distinguished Teaching Award. In 1997 Professor Full became a Chancellor's Professor and the director of a new biological visualization center. In 1998 Professor Full received a Goldman Professorship for teaching.

Professor Full directs the Poly-P.E.D.A.L. Laboratory which studies the Performance, Energetics and Dynamics of Animal Locomotion (P.E.D.A.L.) in many-footed creatures (Poly). His research laboratory applies the same techniques used in the study of human gait - 3D kinematic, force platform, and EMG analysis - but in miniature. His internationally recognized research program in comparative physiology and biomechanics has shown how examining a diversity of animals leads to the discovery of general principles of locomotion. General principles can then be used as hypotheses to explain the remarkable diversity in physiology and morphology in nature. His programmatic theme is Diversity Enables Discovery. At the same time, discovering the function of simple, tractable neuromechanical systems along with a knowledge of evolution can provide new design ideas applicable to the control of animal and human gait. Recently, Professor Full's research has focused on the role of the mechanical system in self-stabilization.

Full's research also has provided biological inspiration for the design of multi-legged robots and computer animations. His research interests extend from analyzing the pitching motion of a Hall of Fame pitcher to assisting computer animators make children's movies (Pixar/Disney Bug;s Life). In 1990 Full received a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigators Award. In 1994 he presented his research at the Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences. Professor Full's research has been featured in the popular press such as newspapers, various science magazines and on several television shows (CNN, NBC Today Show, ABC World News Tonight, Discovery Channel).

How did you choose your present profession?

I have been interested in sports and unusual animals since I was a boy. I wanted to be a professional baseball player, so I was interested in motion. My parents took me on trips to Florida where I was fascinated by animals such as crabs. I found a way to combine my interests.

What would you recommend for students wanting to pursue a similar career?

Always wonder. Never stop asking why. Study hard in school so you can choose your career.

What do you like best about your profession?

The thrill of discovery. Being the first human to have ever answered a question about nature. Then being able to tell and teach others!

What web sites and references would you recommend for viewers interested in your work that was featured inThe Shape of Life series?

http://polypedal.berkeley.edu
Featured in the robotics book, Menzel, P. and D'Aluisio, F. 2000. Evolution of a New Species: Robo sapiens. Cambridge. MIT Press. p. 90-101. Presents interviews on the inspiration in the design of four mobile robots using principles from nature. http://robosapiens.mit.edu
Better than nature made it. Gary Taubes. Science Apr 7 2000: 81.

Dickinson, M.H. Farley, C.T., Full, R.J., Koehl, M. A. R., Kram R., and Lehman, S. 2000. How animals move: An integrative view. Science 288, 100-106.

Full, R.J. Invertebrate locomotor systems. 1997. In: The Handbook of Comparative Physiology. (ed. W. Dantzler). Oxford University Press. pp. 853-930.

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