Dr. Frank C. Sup IV is an Associate Professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the Director of the Mechatronics and Robotics Research Lab. His lab focuses on developing human-centered robotic technologies for augmenting human gait and balance and exploring physical human-machine interfaces. Current research topics include adaptive ankle prostheses, rehabilitation aids, and intelligent mobility aids. His teaching interests are focused on developing mechatronics curriculum and sustainable, hands-on interactive educational experiences for students. He received his mechanical engineering degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (B.S. 2001) and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (M.Sc. 2006 and Ph.D. 2009) where he focused on the hardware and controller development of powered knee and ankle prostheses. He also served as a post-doctoral research associate in the Center for Intelligent Mechatronics at Vanderbilt University where he worked on developing balance enhancing reflexes for powered lower-limb prostheses. During his 2018-19 sabbatical, he served as a Principal Scientist at the Honda Research Institute in Tokyo, Japan studying teleoperation and human-humanoid interaction and was a Visiting Professor at TU-Darmstadt.
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Education
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering – 2009
Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering – 2006
Vanderbilt University – Nashville, TN
B.S. with Honors in Mechanical Engineering – 2001
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Positions Held
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Amherst, MA
2017 – present: Associate Professor
2010 – 2017: Assistant Professor
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Mechatronische Systeme, Darmstadt, Germany
4/2019 – 5/2019: Visiting Professor (Sabbatical)
Honda Research Institute Japan, Frontier Robotics Group, Tokyo, Japan
9/2018 – 2/2019: Principle Scientist (Sabbatical)
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
2009-2010: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Center for Intelligent Mechatronics, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
2005-2009: Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Intelligent Mechatronics, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
2005: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Deloitte, Chicago, IL
2004: Consultant
2001-2003: Systems Analyst
Baxter International, Waukegan, IL
1998, 1999, 2000: Summer Engineering Intern