Liz Tucker: Forging a Path from Lizards to Robots to Consulting

PhD in Biology, CST '22, MS in Kinesiology, CPH '17

Liz Tucker graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Biology in 2014. That summer, Liz enrolled in Temple University’s Master of Science in Integrative Exercise Physiology program in the College of Public Health. She stayed at Temple to pursue her PhD in Biology, Comparative Biomechanics, and received her degree from the College of Science and Technology in 2022.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did your time at Temple shape your academic and professional journey?

Temple allowed me to really investigate what it was that I found intellectually stimulating, from kinesiology to biology to engineering. Coming out of Penn, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I came to Temple to take summer classes and instantly fell in love with anatomy and physiology. I was offered an opportunity within the physiology department to get funding for a master’s degree if I taught anatomy. It was a win-win— like, wow, I'm getting to teach the next generation, explore the topics that I love, and do this kind of niche research all at the same time.

How did you transition from your master's to your PhD? Was that always your plan?

Honestly, no, it wasn’t a plan that I had, but the opportunity was there and I latched onto it. I had been doing research with Associate Professor Tonia Hsieh, whom I’d actually seen as a guest lecturer at Penn, and as my master’s program was coming to a close, she was like, "Hey, do you want to continue with this? I think there's a lot to your research that you can keep pushing." It was really her advocating for me, both within the department and to show that I could do it, that made it happen, and I got to continue working on things that I really liked to do.

Can you tell us about your PhD research?

My PhD is from the biology department, and it's in comparative biomechanics. I was looking into how animals, specifically lizards, navigate complex environments, like drops in surface height or when they run on sand. I studied the movement of their body and the forces their body produces to understand how a lizard with a non-adaptive foot shape can still perform well in different environments. Running on sand is really difficult, yet they manage it. I used that information to design 3D printed feet for robots, which actually helped them jump higher by mimicking the lizard's toe spread. For me, if you're super well-adapted and perfectly situated for an environment, I find that a little less interesting than when you're a generalist who's just trying to get by.

What are some applications of your research?

This understanding can help with the design of search and rescue robots, for example, enabling them to move more efficiently in sandy environments. The grant I worked on was inspired by the challenges faced by Mars rovers and lunar rovers, which often get stuck due to unknown surface properties. My research could help design robotic legs and feet that adapt to various surfaces, potentially changing the way we design robots in the future.

What advice would you give to potential graduate students?

Keep your mind open to the possibilities stemming from your work. The skills you gain during your graduate studies are versatile and can be applied in so many fields. For example, my research on lizards' biomechanics has no direct connection to my current work at Boston Consulting Group, but the critical and analytical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills I developed at Temple are invaluable in my consulting role. Also, define what success means to you personally, and evaluate your opportunities based on that definition. Whether it's supporting your family, solving complex problems, or finding intellectual stimulation, use that definition to guide your career choices.