Manny Azizi
Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Charle Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Charle Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 2005, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1998, Physical Science
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1998, Physical Science
University of California, Irvine
5236 McGaugh Hall
Mail Code: 2525
Irvine, CA 92697
5236 McGaugh Hall
Mail Code: 2525
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Muscle Biology, Locomotion, Biomechanics
Appointments
NIH Post-doctoral Fellow, Brown University
Research Abstract
My research is focused broadly on the physiology and mechanics of movement. Work in my lab strives to understand how the basic properties of skeletal muscle have been shaped by evolution and how shifts in these properties affect neuromuscular health and performance.
Publications
Holt NC, Danos N, Roberts TJ & Azizi E 2016. Stuck in gear: age related loss of variable gearing in skeletal muscle. Journal of Experimental Biology. 219: 998-1003
Holt NC, & Azizi E 2016. The effect of activation level on muscle function during locomotion: are optimal lengths and velocities always used? Proceedings of Royal Society B doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.2832
Sawicki GS, Robertson BD, Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2015. Timing matters: tuning the mechanics of a muscle-tendon unit by adjusting stimulation phase during cyclic contractions.
Journal of Experimental Biology. doi: 10.1242/ jeb.121673.
Danos N & Azizi E 2015. Passive stiffness of hindlimb muscles in anurans with distinct locomotor specializations. Zoology. 118(4): 239-247.
Azizi E, *Larson NP, Abbott EM & Danos 2014. Reduce torques and stick the landing: limb posture during landing in toads. Journal of Experimental Biology. doi: 10.1242/jeb.108506.
Holt NC & Azizi E 2014. What drives activation-dependent shifts in the force-length curve? Biology Letters. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0651.
Azizi E & Deslauriers AR 2014. Regional heterogeneity in muscle fiber strain: the role of fiber architecture. Frontiers in Physiology. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00303
Gillis GB, Ekstrom L, & Azizi E 2014. Biomechanics and control of landing in toads. Integrative and Comparative Biology. doi:10.1093/icb/icu053.
Azizi E 2014. Locomotor function shapes the passive mechanical properties and operating lengths of muscle. Proceedings of Royal Society B. 281: 1783.Azizi E & Roberts TJ 2014. Geared up to stretch: pennate muscle behavior during active lengthening. J. Experimental Biology. 217: 376-381.
Astley HC, Abbott EM, Azizi E, Marsh RL, & Roberts TJ 2013. Chasing maximal performance: a cautionary tale from the celebrated jumping frogs of Calaveras County. J. Experimental Biology. 216: 3947-3953
Azizi E & Roberts TJ 2013. Variable gearing in a biologically-inspired pneumatic actuator array. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. 8: doi:10.1088/1748-3182/8/2/026002.
Azizi E & Abbott EM 2013. Anticipatory motor patterns limit muscle stretch during landing in toads. Biology Letters. 9: doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.1045.
Konow N. Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2012. Muscle power attenuation by tendon during energy dissipation. Proc. of Royal Society B. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2011.1435.
Roberts TJ. Abbott EM, & Azizi E 2011.The weak link:Do muscle properties determine locomotor performance in frogs. Philos.Trans. of Royal Society B. 366:1488-1495.
Roberts TJ, & Azizi E 2011. Flexible mechanisms:The diverse roles of biological springs in vertebrate movement. J. Experimental Biology. 214:353-361.
Roberts TJ, & Azizi E 2010. The series elastic shock absorber: Tendons attenuate muscle power during energy absorbing actions. J. Applied Physiology. 109:396-404.
Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2010. Muscle performance during frog jumping:influence of elasticity on muscle operating lengths.Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 277:1523-1530.
Landberg T & Azizi E 2010. Ontogeny of escape swimming perfonmance in the spotted salamander. Functional Ecology.24{3):576-587.
Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2009. Biaxial strain and variable stiffness in aponeuroses.J. Physiology-London. 587:4309-4318.
Azizi E & Roberts TJ 2009. Sheet-like tendons are stiffened by bulging muscles.Physiology News. 77:28-29.
Azizi E, Halenda GM, & Roberts TJ 2009.Mechanical properties of the gastrocnemius aponeurosis in wild turkeys.Integrative and Comparative Biology. 49:51-58.
Azizi E, Brainerd EL & Roberts TJ 2008.Variable gearing in pennate muscles. Proc. of the National Academy of Sciences. 105: 1745-1750.
Dean MN, Azizi E. & Summers AP 2007. Uniform strain in broad muscles:Active and passive effects of the twisted tendon of the ratfish. Hydrolagus coliei J. Experimental Biology. 210:3395-3406.
Azizi E & Brainerd EL 2007. Architectural gear ratio and strain homogeneity in segmented musculature.J. Experimental Zoology A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology. 307 A:145-155. (Cover illustration)
Azizi E, Landberg T, & Wassersug,RJ 2007.Vertebral function during tadpole locomotion. Zoology.110: 290-297.
Brainerd EL & Azizi E 2005. Muscle fiber angle, segment bulging and gear ratio in segmented musculature. J. Experimental Biology. 208: 3249-3261.
Ward AD & Azizi E 2004. Convergent evolution of the head retraction startle response in elongate fishes and amphibians.Zoology. 107:205-217.
Azizi E. & *Horton JM 2004. Patterns of axial and appendicular movements during aquatic walking in the salamander, Siren lacertina. Zoology. 107:111-120.
McHenry MJ. Azizi E & *Strother JA 2003. The hydrodynamics of locomotion at intermediate Reynolds Numbers:Undulatory swimming in ascidian larvae (Botrylloides sp.). J. Experimental Biology. 206:327-343.
Azizi E, Gillis GB, & Brainerd EL 2002. Morphology and mechanics of myosepta in a swimming salamander, Siren lacertina. Comp. Biochemistry and Physiology A. 133:967-978.
Holt NC, & Azizi E 2016. The effect of activation level on muscle function during locomotion: are optimal lengths and velocities always used? Proceedings of Royal Society B doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.2832
Sawicki GS, Robertson BD, Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2015. Timing matters: tuning the mechanics of a muscle-tendon unit by adjusting stimulation phase during cyclic contractions.
Journal of Experimental Biology. doi: 10.1242/ jeb.121673.
Danos N & Azizi E 2015. Passive stiffness of hindlimb muscles in anurans with distinct locomotor specializations. Zoology. 118(4): 239-247.
Azizi E, *Larson NP, Abbott EM & Danos 2014. Reduce torques and stick the landing: limb posture during landing in toads. Journal of Experimental Biology. doi: 10.1242/jeb.108506.
Holt NC & Azizi E 2014. What drives activation-dependent shifts in the force-length curve? Biology Letters. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0651.
Azizi E & Deslauriers AR 2014. Regional heterogeneity in muscle fiber strain: the role of fiber architecture. Frontiers in Physiology. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00303
Gillis GB, Ekstrom L, & Azizi E 2014. Biomechanics and control of landing in toads. Integrative and Comparative Biology. doi:10.1093/icb/icu053.
Azizi E 2014. Locomotor function shapes the passive mechanical properties and operating lengths of muscle. Proceedings of Royal Society B. 281: 1783.Azizi E & Roberts TJ 2014. Geared up to stretch: pennate muscle behavior during active lengthening. J. Experimental Biology. 217: 376-381.
Astley HC, Abbott EM, Azizi E, Marsh RL, & Roberts TJ 2013. Chasing maximal performance: a cautionary tale from the celebrated jumping frogs of Calaveras County. J. Experimental Biology. 216: 3947-3953
Azizi E & Roberts TJ 2013. Variable gearing in a biologically-inspired pneumatic actuator array. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. 8: doi:10.1088/1748-3182/8/2/026002.
Azizi E & Abbott EM 2013. Anticipatory motor patterns limit muscle stretch during landing in toads. Biology Letters. 9: doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.1045.
Konow N. Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2012. Muscle power attenuation by tendon during energy dissipation. Proc. of Royal Society B. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2011.1435.
Roberts TJ. Abbott EM, & Azizi E 2011.The weak link:Do muscle properties determine locomotor performance in frogs. Philos.Trans. of Royal Society B. 366:1488-1495.
Roberts TJ, & Azizi E 2011. Flexible mechanisms:The diverse roles of biological springs in vertebrate movement. J. Experimental Biology. 214:353-361.
Roberts TJ, & Azizi E 2010. The series elastic shock absorber: Tendons attenuate muscle power during energy absorbing actions. J. Applied Physiology. 109:396-404.
Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2010. Muscle performance during frog jumping:influence of elasticity on muscle operating lengths.Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 277:1523-1530.
Landberg T & Azizi E 2010. Ontogeny of escape swimming perfonmance in the spotted salamander. Functional Ecology.24{3):576-587.
Azizi E, & Roberts TJ 2009. Biaxial strain and variable stiffness in aponeuroses.J. Physiology-London. 587:4309-4318.
Azizi E & Roberts TJ 2009. Sheet-like tendons are stiffened by bulging muscles.Physiology News. 77:28-29.
Azizi E, Halenda GM, & Roberts TJ 2009.Mechanical properties of the gastrocnemius aponeurosis in wild turkeys.Integrative and Comparative Biology. 49:51-58.
Azizi E, Brainerd EL & Roberts TJ 2008.Variable gearing in pennate muscles. Proc. of the National Academy of Sciences. 105: 1745-1750.
Dean MN, Azizi E. & Summers AP 2007. Uniform strain in broad muscles:Active and passive effects of the twisted tendon of the ratfish. Hydrolagus coliei J. Experimental Biology. 210:3395-3406.
Azizi E & Brainerd EL 2007. Architectural gear ratio and strain homogeneity in segmented musculature.J. Experimental Zoology A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology. 307 A:145-155. (Cover illustration)
Azizi E, Landberg T, & Wassersug,RJ 2007.Vertebral function during tadpole locomotion. Zoology.110: 290-297.
Brainerd EL & Azizi E 2005. Muscle fiber angle, segment bulging and gear ratio in segmented musculature. J. Experimental Biology. 208: 3249-3261.
Ward AD & Azizi E 2004. Convergent evolution of the head retraction startle response in elongate fishes and amphibians.Zoology. 107:205-217.
Azizi E. & *Horton JM 2004. Patterns of axial and appendicular movements during aquatic walking in the salamander, Siren lacertina. Zoology. 107:111-120.
McHenry MJ. Azizi E & *Strother JA 2003. The hydrodynamics of locomotion at intermediate Reynolds Numbers:Undulatory swimming in ascidian larvae (Botrylloides sp.). J. Experimental Biology. 206:327-343.
Azizi E, Gillis GB, & Brainerd EL 2002. Morphology and mechanics of myosepta in a swimming salamander, Siren lacertina. Comp. Biochemistry and Physiology A. 133:967-978.
Grants
2015-2020 Co-PI, Army Res. Office. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative. “Evolutionary mechanics of impulsive biological systems: Guiding scalable synthetic design”. $6,192,181
2014-2017 PI, NSF. “The Effects of Age related Changes in Muscle Extracellular Matrix on Muscle Performance and Gait”. $307,724
2012-1016 Co-PI, NIH, “Elastic Mechanisms in Locomotion”. $1,432,019
2011-2014 PI, NSF. “RUI collaborative: Biomechanics and Control of Landing in Toads”. $185,895
2008-2011 PI, NIH, Ruth Kirchstein National Research Service Award, “Mechanical role of titin in limiting eccentric muscle damage”. $153,822
Research Centers
Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology
Exercise Medicine & Sports Sciences Initiative
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5841
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=5841
Last updated
07/26/2024
07/26/2024