Linda J Kenney
Linda Kenney is President of Mechanobiologics, Inc., a science-driven company dedicated to advancing innovative therapeutic applications of low-frequency ultrasound. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she leads the organization’s strategic vision and operations, guiding its mission to explore novel treatments for age-related conditions through cutting-edge mechanobiology research.
Mechanobiologics builds on the pioneering work of its founder, Dr. Michael P. Sheetz, a leader in the field of cellular mechanotransduction. Under Linda’s leadership, the company is focused on translating foundational scientific discoveries into practical, impactful solutions that have the potential to improve quality of life and address unmet medical needs associated with aging.
Linda holds a Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she developed a strong foundation in biological systems and research rigor. She brings a deep respect for scientific inquiry, innovation, and collaboration to her work, and remains committed to advancing technologies that bridge academic research and real-world therapeutic application.
• Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania, Post-doctoral research Yale and Princeton University, Professor of Biochemistry University of Texas
• University of Pennsylvania
• Distinguished Service Award Biophysical Society, Member, American Academy of Microbiology, Fellow AAAS
• Doctors Without Borders
• Planned Parenthood
• Sierra Club
• Biophysical Society
• American Society of Microbiology
• Girls, Inc. Santa Fe, Santa Fe Symphony, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Adubon Society,
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a dogged determination to persist, against the odds and in spite of difficulties and set backs.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't be afraid to take risks and go where the opportunities are. For me, that meant relocating to Singapore, where I did the best work of my career and had the opportunity to help establish the Mechanobiology Institute (MBI) at the National University of Singapore. Here we were able to do multidisciplinary research and where we were only limited by our ideas, not by research funding.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If there is any lesson worth sharing, it’s that intuition matters and passion matters. You don’t need to be fully prepared to take the next step—what matters most is being willing to learn, stay curious, and trust yourself as you grow into the work.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is navigating the realities of building and running a business—something I was never formally trained to do. While my work has always been rooted in science, leading a company requires a different kind of courage: the willingness to start from the ground up, make strategic decisions about visibility and direction, and learn as you go. Though unexpected, this transition has become a meaningful opportunity—one I’ve embraced with the same curiosity, resilience, and commitment that have shaped my scientific career.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My journey into science was never guaranteed. When my father died suddenly as I was finishing high school, I put myself through college. Affordable state university tuition in the late 1970s and early 1980s made that possible—a reality that feels increasingly out of reach for students today. That experience shaped my values profoundly and continues to inform my advocacy for equity, education, and access. Scientific integrity/ rigor/ concern about my personnel and compassion for their well being is what drives me. Outside the laboratory and boardroom, I am sustained by movement and observation: tennis, skiing, hiking, birdwatching. These pursuits keep me grounded, attentive, and humble—qualities science teaches you quickly if you are paying attention. I also support organizations whose missions align with my belief in compassion, justice, and evidence-based action, including Doctors Without Borders, the Sierra Club, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and Planned Parenthood.