Daniel P. Kiehart

Daniel P. Kiehart is a Professor of Biology at Duke University, holding primary appointments in the Department of Biology within Trinity College of Arts & Sciences and a secondary appointment in the Department of Cell Biology at Duke School of Medicine. Since 2000, he has been a faculty member in Biology and Cell Biology. He also serves as Chief of the Division of Developmental Biology under Basic Science Departments, an Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center, and an Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society. His work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms driving cell shape changes during development and wound healing, with a strong emphasis on Drosophila as a model organism.

Kiehart earned a B.A. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and a Ph.D. in Biology from the same institution in 1979. He previously held positions at Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University before joining Duke in 1992. His research combines molecular genetics and biophysical approaches to study cytoskeletal dynamics, particularly the role of nonmuscle myosin II in processes like embryogenesis and tissue repair.

His research interests include the biophysics of morphogenesis, actomyosin networks, tissue force regulation, and the application of advanced microscopy techniques such as lattice light-sheet microscopy. He has contributed to over 80 peer-reviewed publications and pioneered methods to quantify cellular forces during development.

Key recognition includes the 2015 Newcomb Cleveland Prize from the AAAS for his work on lattice light-sheet microscopy and his status as an AAAS Fellow. Kiehart has also been involved in leadership roles, including reappointment as Trinity Dean of Natural Sciences in 2016, where he oversees initiatives like the Natural Sciences in the 21st Century Colloquium Series and collaborates on quantitative science initiatives across Duke’s campuses.

In advising and mentoring, Kiehart has supported numerous Ph.D. students and postdoctoral researchers, focusing on developmental and stem cell biology. His grants include long-term NIH funding for training programs and biophysical studies of morphogenesis, such as the Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program (2021–2026) and Morphogenesis: Biophysics and Genetics of Dorsal Closure (2018–2028). His lab is actively involved in interdisciplinary projects, including collaborations with the Duke Regeneration Center and Duke Physics department.