Megan Ken

Megan Ken, MD, PhD is a Research Fellow in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research, with joint appointments in Immunology & Microbiology and the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Her work bridges RNA structural biology, computational modeling, and drug discovery, focusing on understanding RNA dynamics in cellular contexts.

Dr. Ken holds a B.A. in Biology and Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis (2013), an M.D. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Duke University School of Medicine (2022–2023). Her research emphasizes RNA conformational propensities, ensemble behavior, and their implications for therapeutic targeting.

Her notable achievements include the 2025 Andy Kaplan Prize and the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (2024). Her lab develops predictive models of RNA function and explores nonspecific drug-RNA interactions. She has pioneered methods for high-performance virtual screening targeting RNA dynamic ensembles.

Dr. Ken advocates for inclusive excellence in STEM, co-developing curricula on health disparities and cultural determinants of health. Grants include NIH/NIAID funding for MD/PhD training and the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation Award.