Name: Katrina Knight
Title: NSF Graduate Research Fellow





Educational Background:
Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC - Biochemistry - May 2009 - B.S.

MSRC Research Group:
Tissue mechanics

Lab Contact Info:
Musculoskeletal Research Center
405 Center for Bioengineering
300 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412-648-1943
Fax: 412-648-2001
kmk144@pitt.edu

Research Interests:
  • Synthetic mesh (design and impact on host tissue mechanical and structural properties) used for pelvic organ prolapse repairs
  • Biomechanics of soft tissues with the goal of understanding the functional role of elastin and smooth muscle in the vagina
Current project:
  1. Modeling the Impact of Tensioning of Transvaginal Meshes to Predict Mesh Outcomes
  2. Parity Negatively Impacts the Uniaxial Mechanical Properties of the Vagina in the Ewe
  3. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators Directly Impact the Structural Properties of the Rat Vagina and Supportive Connective Tissues
Honors and Awards:
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellow - Awarded 2012
  • NIH T32 Biomechanics in Regenerative Medicine Training Program Trainee - Awarded 2011
  • George M. Bevier Fellowship in Engineering - Awarded 2010
  • K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship - Awarded 2010


Hobbies: Basketball, Football, Movies, Photomosaic Puzzles, Suduko

Home Country: USA

Publications:
  1. Rui Liang, Steven Abramowitch, Katrina Knight, Stacy Palcsey, Alexis Nolfi, Andrew Feola, Suzan Stein, Pamela A. Moalli. Vaginal degeneration following implantation of synthetic mesh with increased stiffness. British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2013;120(2):233-43

  2. Krishna Addanki, Muhammad Sheraz, Katrina Knight, Kendall Williams, Donald Gene Pace, and Omar Bagasra. Detection of anthrax toxin genetic sequences by the solid phase oligo-probes. Indian Journal of Microbiology 2011;29(4):372-8