Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida, 2020
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida, 2018
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2016
Academic Appointments
  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2020-2024
Professional Honors
  • Best Presentation (Soft Matter Symposium x2)
  • Graduate Student Fellowship
  • 6-time Academic All-Conference recipient

Dr. Morley is a Mechanical Engineer with over a decade of experience in the fields of soft materials and mechanobiology, spanning multiple scales from single cells to organoids and musculoskeletal systems. Drawing on his background in mechanical and materials engineering, he has developed advanced 3D cell culture systems and biomanufacturing platforms to investigate biophysical interactions between cells and their microenvironment that have led to patented systems used in industry. As an Associate at Exponent, Dr. Morley's breadth of experience has enabled him to leverage experimental and theoretical techniques to advise clients on complex engineering problems in proactive and reactive work. 

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Morley focused on the development of granular hydrogels for use as sacrificial materials in embedded 3D bioprinting and as a shear thinning injectable for cell therapy applications. During his Ph.D. at the University of Florida, he investigated the failure mechanisms of 3D printed cellular microbeams, self-assembly and coalescence of cellular aggregates, and the chemotaxis of engineered T cells to tumoroids. To enable these studies, he designed and tested several innovative 3D cell culture tools, including a microscopy-enabled bioprinter and several passive perfusion bioreactors. This work also included development of 3D printing techniques with a range of polymeric materials. Additionally, Dr. Morley served as the technical lead for a collaboration with Anton Paar, where he performed rheological characterization on a wide range of soft materials, such as hydrogels, emulsions, and polymer blends.

As a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley, Dr. Morley developed a tunable injectable hydrogel with independently adjustable liquid- and solid-like properties. This technology, developed in partnership with a commercial collaborator, aimed to enhance the efficiency of cell therapies, including dopaminergic neuron transplants for Parkinson's disease. Dr. Morley's expertise in reduction to practice has been instrumental in turning innovative concepts into patented technologies that are now licensed, commercialized, and used by biotech companies. 

Dr. Morley has technical experience that spans a wide range of disciplines, including microscopy / light-based assays (brightfield, epifluorescence, confocal, SEM, FACS, ELISA), quantitative image analysis (ImageJ, MATLAB), traditional manufacturing (CNC, casting, molding), additive manufacturing (bioreactors, bioprinting, inkjet, SLA, VAM), and polymer functionalization and characterization (NMR, rheology, DMA, SEC, FTIR). He is also experienced in design (SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and microfabrication (microfluidics, photolithography), with particular expertise in developing solutions requiring BSL-2 levels of safety.