Erin M Buckley
(she/her)
Areas of Research
Biomedical Imaging & Instrumentation , Cardiovascular Engineering, NeuroengineeringBiography
Dr. Erin Buckley is an Associate Professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, and in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University. Her research focuses on exploring the clinical utility of non-invasive diffuse optical techniques for low-cost, bedside monitoring of hemodynamics in the brain and other tissues. By bridging engineering innovation with clinical need, Dr. Buckley’s work aims to improve outcomes after brain injury. She is also the Producer of the Holy Shift! podcast that explores how biomedical breakthroughs impact our communities and everyday lives. In addition to her research and outreach, Dr. Buckley is a dedicated educator and mentor, committed to training the next generation of biomedical engineers and clinician-scientists at the intersection of technology and human health.
Education
- PhD, Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania
- MS, Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania
- BA, Physics, College of William and Mary
Research Interests
Prof. Buckley's research centers on mechanobiology, exploring how mechanical forces regulate cellular and tissue function. Her work employs experimental and computational approaches to investigate mechanotransduction pathways and their roles in tissue development, homeostasis, and disease. This research aims to advance understanding of cellular responses to mechanical stimuli, contributing to innovations in regenerative medicine and biomaterials.
The overarching goal of the Buckley lab is to develop new optical technologies that aid in the assessment of brain health, brain development, autoregulation, vascular reactivity, and responses to therapeutic intervention. To achieve this goal, the Buckley lab employs diffuse optical spectroscopies to noninvasively study the brain. These tools utilize a unique property of biological tissue that light in the near-infrared range is able to penetrate deeply into tissue before being absorbed. The work bridges biomedical engineering and clinical neuroscience, with the goal of improving early detection of brain injury, understanding disease-related changes in neurovascular function, and guiding interventions that protect the recovering brain.