Megan Killian

Megan Killian, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the School of Engineering. Her work bridges biomechanics, tissue engineering, and infectious disease research. She explores tendon-bone interface development, mechanobiological processes in musculoskeletal systems, and fungal pathogenesis mechanisms.

Education details are not explicitly provided in the text, though her doctoral training aligns with her current research focus. Research interests include tendon homeostasis regulation, optogenetic muscle loading applications, and engineered biomaterials for regenerative medicine. She has pioneered studies on AMPK signaling in tendinopathy and developed novel hydrogel composites for tendon repair.

Her publications span 2009-2025, emphasizing translational research in musculoskeletal regeneration and fungal colonization mechanisms. Notable contributions include the 2020 NSF CAREER award-funded work on postnatal enthesis development and 2023 studies on equitable faculty hiring strategies. She leads interdisciplinary teams investigating bone-tendon interface dynamics and pathogen-host interactions.

Dr. Killian's lab focuses on translational musculoskeletal research, combining biomechanical experimentation with molecular biology techniques. Current projects address tendon regeneration via optogenetic loading and fungal adhesin-mediated skin colonization pathways. She collaborates widely on tissue engineering strategies and orthopaedic biomaterial development.