Jacob Harrison, Ph.D.

Welcome! I’m Jacob Harrison, a new Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. I’m an interdisciplinary field biologist who merges physiology, biomechanics, physics, developmental biology, and ecology to investigate how and why biomechanical systems develop and evolve.

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My work examines how organisms develop and deploy ultrafast motions, linking the mechanics of these movements to ecological context and behavioral outcomes. I use a variety of methods—high-speed imaging, materials testing, morphometrics, behavioral studies, and mathematical modeling—to understand how mechanical constraints shift throughout an organism’s life cycle, and how those shifts feed back into ecological interactions.

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Currently, I’m building a lab at Morehouse College to study the development of spring-actuated mechanisms and how these mechanisms operate in natural conditions. I am also very interested in the role field courses play in the retention and success of students in STEM fields. I am currently building a new website as I establish my new lab, so please stay tuned for more!

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Thanks for visiting, and feel free to reach out if you’d like to learn more or discuss potential collaborations!