Craig McGowan

Craig McGowan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Anatomical Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He previously held roles at the University of Idaho and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and the University of Texas, Austin. Dr. McGowan directs the PhD Program in Integrative Anatomical Sciences and serves as a Research Associate in Mammalogy at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

His research program explores the relationships between musculoskeletal morphology and locomotor biomechanics, focusing on how muscles, tendons, and limb structures enable animals (including humans) to maneuver through complex environments. He integrates in-vivo measurements, musculoskeletal modeling, and computational simulations to address questions about muscle function, habitat adaptation, and prosthetic limb performance.

The 15 most recent publications highlight a diverse range of topics, from rodent escape responses and kangaroo rat bio-inspiration for robotics to clinical applications of physical therapy techniques and detailed biomechanical models of muscle-tendon dynamics. These works span fields such as comparative biomechanics, environmental adaptation, and clinical rehabilitation.

Scientific honors include election to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (2024), USC’s Outstanding Teaching Award (2023), multiple University of Idaho teaching and mentoring accolades, and the American Society of Biomechanics’ Young Scientist Post-doctoral Award (2010).

Dr. McGowan mentors PhD and MS students in comparative biomechanics, including current advisees Mary Pena and Benjamin Pisarz, and lab alumni Jenny Aguilar, Raymond Bernal, and Ariel Vieira. His work has implications for understanding evolutionary musculoskeletal systems and improving human rehabilitation strategies.