Biomedical engineer Daniel Moran, Ph.D.

Daniel Moran received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering in 1989 from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and his Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering in 1994 from Arizona State University. Given his interest in neural engineering, Dr. Moran performed a three-year postdoc in Systems Neurophysiology at the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego. After completing his post-doctoral experience, Dr. Moran advanced to the Associate Fellow position at the Neurosciences Institute where he continued his research in voluntary motor control. In 2000, Dr. Moran accepted a faculty position at Washington University where he is currently an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering with joint appointments in both Neurobiology and Physical Therapy.
Dr. Moran’s primary research interest is in the area of voluntary motor control. His lab investigates how various neural substrates control voluntary arm movements. Furthermore, Dr. Moran’s lab applies these scientific results to the development of novel neuroprosthetics devices. Current research projects involve controlling complex 3D musculoskeletal arm models with cortical signals. This research utilizes both intracortical microelectrode recordings in non-human primates as well as electrocorticographic recordings in human patients. The goal of this research is restore voluntary arm control to paralyzed individuals via motor cortical recordings and function electrical stimulation of arm muscles or prosthetic limbs.