Craig McGowan

Professor of Clinical Medical Education and Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy

Division Head, Integrative Anatomical Sciences

Websites

Comparative Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab

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Overview

Dr. McGowan is a Professor and Division Head in the Department of Medical Education – Division of Integrative Anatomical Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Prior to joining USC, he spent ten years in the Department of Biological Sciences and the WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Idaho. He received his PhD in Biology from Harvard University and was an NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Integrated Physiology at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas, Austin.

Dr. McGowan’s research program seeks to understand the relationships between musculoskeletal morphology and the biomechanics of locomotor performance. His research team addresses questions geared towards understanding the in-vivo dynamics of individual muscles, the influence of musculoskeletal architecture on muscle function, and the links between limb morphology, whole body locomotor performance and habitat utilization. Using a comparative approach, he integrates a number of research techniques including in-vivo muscle-tendon measurements, musculoskeletal modeling and computer simulation, whole body physiology and biomechanics, and measurements of performance and habitat use in the field to examine how humans and other animals maneuver through their natural environments.

Awards

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society: Elected Member, 2024
Keck School of Medicine of USC: Outstanding Teaching Award, 2023
University of Idaho: Award for Teaching Excellence, 2020
University of Idaho: University Mid-Career Award, 2018
– 2020
University of Idaho: Award for Teaching Excellence, 2015
University of Idaho: Alumni Award for Excellence in Mentoring, 2014
National Center for Simulation in Rehabilitation Research: Outstanding Researcher Award, 2012
American Society of Biomechanics: Young Scientist Post-doctoral Award, 2010

Education and Training

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ — BS — 2000 — Biology
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA — PhD — 2006 — Biology
University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO — Postdoc — 2009 — Integrative Physiology
University of Texas, Austin, Austin, TX — Postdoc — 2010 — Mechanical Engineering

Research Funding

NSF-BII: Integrative Movement Science Institute (IMSI)
National Science Foundation · Mar 1, 2024 – Feb 28, 2030 · Role: Senior Personnel
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Elucidating the contributions of nonlinearities in musculotendon properties to enabling locomotion in unpredictable environments
NSF – IOS · Apr 1, 2022 – Mar 31, 2025 · Role: PI
CAREER: Establishing links between musculoskeletal morphology and the biomechanics of bipedal hopping in desert environments
NSF – IOS · Apr 1, 2016 – Mar 31, 2023 · Role: PI

Publications

Leg stiffness of sprinters using running-specific prostheses. J R Soc Interface. 2012 Aug 07; 9(73):1975-82.. View in PubMed
Muscle contributions to whole-body sagittal plane angular momentum during walking. J Biomech. 2011 Jan 04; 44(1):6-12.. View in PubMed
Counterpoint: Artificial legs do not make artificially fast running speeds possible. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2010 Apr; 108(4):1012-4; discussion 1014; author reply 1020.. View in PubMed
Running-specific prostheses limit ground-force during sprinting. Biol Lett. 2010 Apr 23; 6(2):201-4.. View in PubMed
A phenomenological model and validation of shortening-induced force depression during muscle contractions. J Biomech. 2010 Feb 10; 43(3):449-54.. View in PubMed
Modular control of human walking: Adaptations to altered mechanical demands. J Biomech. 2010 Feb 10; 43(3):412-9.. View in PubMed
Forward dynamics simulations provide insight into muscle mechanical work during human locomotion. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2009 Oct; 37(4):203-10.. View in PubMed
Obesity does not increase external mechanical work per kilogram body mass during walking. J Biomech. 2009 Oct 16; 42(14):2273-8.. View in PubMed
The fastest runner on artificial legs: different limbs, similar function? J Appl Physiol (1985). 2009 Sep; 107(3):903-11. Weyand PG, Bundle MW, McGowan CP , Grabowski A, Brown MB, Kram R, Herr H . View in PubMed
Modulation of leg muscle function in response to altered demand for body support and forward propulsion during walking. J Biomech. 2009 May 11; 42(7):850-6.. View in PubMed