Welcome to our new CMTM Executive Director, Katherine Zhang!

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Katherine Yanhang Zhang, who has recently taken on the role of our CMTM Executive Director.  Katherine is highly regarded for her research accomplishments in vascular biomechanics, and multiscale mechanics and mechanobiology of extracellular matrix. Her prior leadership experience includes serving as associate chair for graduate research programs in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and leading multi-PI research teams. Her current research projects, funded by NHLBI and NIA, integrate multiscale biomechanical characterization and computational modeling, and advanced optical imaging and quantification to understand arterial failure in dissection and rupture, cerebrovascular structure and function in Alzheimer’s disease, and the effects of aging on elastin extracellular matrix.  She is the recipient of numerous awards, and will make a wonderful addition to the CMTM leadership team.  Read more about Katherine’s visions for the Center in her Letter from the Director.

Congratulations and welcome, Katherine!

We also want to thank Dr. Elise Morgan, founding Director of the Center for Multiscale & Translational Mechanobiology, for her vision for and leadership of the Center over the past four years.  CMTM would not exist without her; she created not only a strong academic and research community, but also a caring, inclusive, and welcoming one.  Congratulations to Elise on her new role as ENG Dean ad interim!