Ken Gall

Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Professor Gall’s research aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the relationship between the processing, structure, and mechanical properties of materials.  His scientific contributions range from the creation and understanding of shape memory metals and polymers to the discovery of a new phase transformation in metal nanowires.  His current research interests are 3D printed metals and polymers, soft synthetic biomaterials, and biopolymers with structured surface porous networks. 

In addition to his research he has consulted for industry, the US Military and the US Intelligence Community, and served as an expert witness in multiple patent and product litigations.  Finally, he is a passionate entrepreneur who uses fundamental scientific knowledge to hasten the commercialization of new materials and improve the effectiveness of existing materials.   He founded two medical device start-up companies, MedShape and Vertera who have commercialized university based technologies in the orthopedic medical device space.

Appointments and Affiliations

• Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
• Professor of Biomedical Engineering
• Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery

Contact Information

• Office Location: 144 Hudson Hall, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708
• Office Phone: (919) 660-5430
• Email Address: kag70@duke.edu
• Websites:
  • Gall Group

Education

• Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1998
• M.S. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1996
• B.S. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1995

Research Interests

Materials science, mechanical properties, metals and polymers. Specialties: Shape memory materials, biomaterials, 3D printing.

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

• ASEE Curtis McGraw Award. ASEE. 2012
• TMS Robert Lansing Hardy Award. The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society. 2008
• ASM Bradley Stoughton Award. ASM International. 2005
• ASME Gold Medal. ASME. 2004
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineering (PECASE). Department of Energy - NNSA. 2002

Courses Taught

• BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
• EGR 393: Research Projects in Engineering
• ME 391: Undergraduate Projects in Mechanical Engineering
• ME 392: Undergraduate Projects in Mechanical Engineering
• ME 491: Special Projects in Mechanical Engineering
• ME 492: Special Projects in Mechanical Engineering
• ME 591: Research Independent Study in Mechanical Engineering or Material Science
• ME 592: Research Independent Study in Mechanical Engineering or Material Science

In the News

• Stiff, Achy Knees? Lab-Made Cartilage Gel Outperforms the Real Thing (Aug 11, 2022)
• From the Lab, the First Cartilage-Mimicking Gel That’s Strong Enough for Knees (Jun 26, 2020)
• Duke Creates Open-Source Protective Respirator (Apr 13, 2020)
• Solving Pressing Challenges: 3D Printing of Medical Grade Face Shields (Apr 2, 2020)
• Duke-Georgia Tech Spinal Implant Start-UP Acquired by NuVasive (Sep 19, 2017 | Pratt School of Engineering)
• Students, Doctors Develop Next-Generation Surgical Implants (May 1, 2017)
• Ken Gall Named Chair of Duke’s MEMS Department (Apr 24, 2015 | Pratt School of Engineering)

Representative Publications

• Abar, B; Vail, E; Mathey, E; Park, E; Allen, NB; Adams, SB; Gall, K, A bending model for assessing relative stiffness and strength of orthopaedic fixation constructs., Clinical Biomechanics, vol 111 (2023) [10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2023.106135] [abs].
• Johnson, JW; Gadomski, B; Labus, K; Stewart, H; Nelson, B; Seim, H; Regan, D; von Stade, D; Kelly, C; Horne, P; Gall, K; Easley, J, Novel 3D printed lattice structure titanium cages evaluated in an ovine model of interbody fusion., Jor Spine, vol 6 no. 3 (2023) [10.1002/jsp2.1268] [abs].
• Peloquin, J; Kirillova, A; Rudin, C; Brinson, LC; Gall, K, Prediction of tensile performance for 3D printed photopolymer gyroid lattices using structural porosity, base material properties, and machine learning, Materials & Design, vol 232 (2023) [10.1016/j.matdes.2023.112126] [abs].
• Peloquin, J; Kirillova, A; Mathey, E; Rudin, C; Brinson, LC; Gall, K, Tensile performance data of 3D printed photopolymer gyroid lattices., Data in Brief, vol 49 (2023) [10.1016/j.dib.2023.109396] [abs].
• Bachtiar, E; Knight, K; Moalli, P; Gall, K, Deformation and Durability of Soft 3D-printed Polycarbonate Urethane Porous Membranes for Potential Use in Pelvic Organ Prolapse., Journal of Biomechanical Engineering (2023), pp. 1-62 [10.1115/1.4062490] [abs].