Principal Investigator
Megan R. Routzong, Ph.D.
Dr. Megan Routzong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern with a secondary appointment in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
She graduated from the University of Rochester in 2016 with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 with a Ph.D. in Bioengineering, and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Diego in 2025 before joining UT Southwestern that November. She is a former NSF GRFP Fellow and current NIH K99/R00 Awardee, both of which provided funding for Dr. Routzong to study how pelvic floor muscles remodel during pregnancy. You can read a more detailed biography on her UTSW Faculty Profile page.
Dr. Routzong's core research focus employs computational and experimental methods at multiple biological scales to evaluate the biomechanics and mechanobiology of female pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy and childbirth, but she also utilizes these skills and techniques to study other musculoskeletal tissues and clinical areas.
Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, writing, photography, and exploring/hiking with her friends and family (including her dog, Luna).
Current Lab Members
Annette Vega
Undergraduate Student, Amgen Scholar
Lab Member: Summer 2026
Annette is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (expected graduation in 2028). She joined the lab in June 2026 as part of UT Southwestern's prestigious Amgen Scholars Program and her project involves designing and prototyping a polarized light imaging system for dynamic imaging of collagen during ex vivo mechanical testing. Motivated by a passion for advancing women's health, she aspires to engineer innovative tools to study the female reproductive system and improve understanding of women's physiology.
Annette was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Outside of academics and research, she enjoys cooking, drawing, and playing video games.
Collaborators
Our research wouldn't be possible without the contributions of our collaborators and their teams.
Meet our collaborators