Lance Davidson

Lance Davidson is Professor and William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering, where he directs the MechMorpho Lab. He earned his B.S. in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1984), an M.Sc. in Experimental Space Science from York University (1986), and his Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley (1995). His research sits at the intersection of physics, engineering, and biology, focusing on the biomechanics of morphogenesis — how forces generated by the cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and the extracellular matrix shape tissues during vertebrate embryonic development. Working primarily with Xenopus (frog) embryos, his lab takes a structural engineer's approach to studying how embryos are built, measuring force and movement across the whole system rather than dissecting it piece by piece. This work has revealed how mechanical forces help shape the germ layers that give rise to the central nervous system, guide cells that form the heart and cardiovascular system, and drive regeneration of skin cells. His research has been supported by the NIH (including a MERIT Award), NSF (CAREER Award), and the American Heart Association. He was named a Wellington C. Carl Faculty Fellow and has authored well over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Click here for more information on his research.