Meet Andrew Robbins, PhD, a research assistant professor at Texas A&M University with appointments in multiple colleges and schools, including the College of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the School of Engineering Medicine. Robbins has expertise in orthopedic and whole-body biomechanics, tissue biomechanics, and medical device design and evaluation.
In his research, Robbins focuses on developing innovative solutions to orthopedic diseases and injuries. He has worked on several research projects, including the development of an ovine motion capture model for evaluating orthopedic diseases and devices, testing and evaluation of a novel surgical navigation system, mechanical analysis of a novel biological medial collateral ligament (MCL) repair, and evaluation of bicep tendon repair surgical techniques, among others.
Robbins also collaborates with academic and industry partners to design and evaluate medical devices, performing testing for regulatory clearance. His
partners have included CorInnova Inc., 4Web Medical, CAIRA Surgical Inc., Embody Inc., Stridelink, and others. His research is supported by funding from National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD), and industry partners.
To support his research activities, Robbins maintains a good laboratory practice/good manufacturing process (GLP/GMP) compliant quality system in his lab to enable testing and evaluation in support of regulatory applications. He is a member of several professional organizations, including Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Orthopedic Research Society (ORS), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
In addition to his research, Dr. Robbins manages the Engineering Medicine Innovation Center, a 10,000 sq. ft. innovation makerspace and workshop serving the EnMed program at the School of Engineering Medicine. He also teaches courses in the Engineering Medicine Program, including ITDE 610 Introduction to Innovation in Engineering and Medicine and others, and has taught in the Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering departments, including Measurements, Orthopedic Biomechanics, and Engineering Studio.
Dr. Robbins also serves as the acting director of admissions for the Engineering Medicine Program in the School of Engineering Medicine at Texas A&M University. Since 2019, he has overseen admissions and recruiting, including the E2ENMED Early Assurance Program.
Overall, Dr. Robbins is a highly accomplished researcher, educator, and administrator, dedicated to advancing the field of orthopedic biomechanics and medical device design. His contributions to research and education have made him a valuable member of the Texas A&M community, while his leadership in admissions and recruiting has helped to attract and mentor the next generation of engineering medicine innovators.
