10/2/2024 Riya Agrawal
Written by Riya Agrawal
MechSE alumnus Patrick Slade (BSME 2016) is now an assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard University. Since earning his MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and then completing a postdoctoral position in a bioengineering lab at Stanford, Slade’s research has spanned biokinetics, robotics and data science.
Reflecting on his first year as a tenure-track professor, Slade described it as both challenging and exhilarating. “My first year [as a professor] has been fun; it’s a big learning curve in some ways, teaching courses for the first time and starting my own independent research group,” he said.
Slade’s work at Harvard is already off to a dynamic start, with new projects, graduate students and the early stages of groundbreaking biomechanics, robotics and AI devices taking shape in the lab. While balancing the various aspects of this new role has been demanding, teaching has been a particularly rewarding part of his journey.
Slade's research program focuses on improving mobility for various patient populations. “The big idea is that we use tools and systems to improve mobility and independence,” he explained. His vision is to develop systems that overcome fundamental limitations by using data science to build intelligent roles for decision making. He is creating technologies that work in harmony with the user's actions to enhance their quality of life.
During his undergraduate years at Illinois, he worked with the successful startup Psyonic, an experience that laid the foundation for his future endeavors. “I worked on developing prosthetic hands, specifically muscle control,” he said. His focus was on making these devices low-cost and accessible, providing haptic feedback to users, which made them more meaningful and effective. “It taught me a lot about what I have been building toward: helping people live independently.”
Reflecting on his time at MechSE, Slade acknowledged the department's role in shaping his career. “The program gave me a strong foundation in terms of design and controls,” he said.
His journey is a testament to the importance of exploring one's interests and applying classroom knowledge to real-world problems. “I think it's really important to explore your interests and the applications of what you might want to do,” he advised. The hands-on experience and foundational knowledge gained through the MechSE program have been invaluable to him.
Slade encourages undergraduates to explore and apply their learning to real-world problems. Whether through research or industry internships, he emphasized the importance of figuring out what area of engineering resonates with them.
“It’s really important to explore your interests and apply what you learn in class to something you care about,” Slade noted. His own exploration at Illinois was impactful, allowing him to gain important insights into his chosen field. Now, as he continues to grow in his role at Harvard, Slade serves as an inspiring example of where a strong foundation and a willingness to explore can lead.