Lisa Noelle Cooper

Lisa Noelle Cooper is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at NEOMED, holding dual faculty appointments at NEOMED and Kent State University. She leads the Musculoskeletal Research Focus Area and specializes in evolutionary and molecular mechanisms underlying bone structure in bats and whales. Her work explores how these species achieve exceptional longevity and skeletal resilience.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Biology, Montana State University (1999)
• Master of Science in Evolutionary Biology, San Diego State University (2004)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Kent State University (2009)

Research Interests

Dr. Cooper investigates the molecular and structural basis of bone adaptation in bats and whales, focusing on aging, biomechanics, and evolutionary origins. Her lab studies how these species' bones resist age-related decline and support unique lifestyles (e.g., flight in bats, deep-sea swimming in whales). Key areas include:

• Bat wing bone resilience and collagen fiber orientation
• Bowhead whale osteosclerosis and rib development
• Epigenetic aging clocks in bats
• Cetacean embryology and flipper evolution

Awards

• 2018 Junior Faculty Award
• National Science Foundation Collaborative Research Grant (2015)

Grants & Teaching

Recipient of NSF funding for bat bone matrix research. Teaches courses in Integrative Musculoskeletal Biology, Human Architecture, and Physiology (Cardio/Pulmonary, GI/Reproductive/Endocrine).

Labs & Teams

Leads the Cooper Lab at NEOMED, which integrates molecular, biomechanical, and evolutionary approaches to study bone adaptation. Collaborates with institutions like the University of Illinois and San Diego State University.