Brendan Smith, Ph.D.
Exploring Interdisciplinary Research at LMU
Brendan Smith, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, empowers students with the creative and critical thinking skills to apply engineering principles to design, develop, and create solutions to complex problems. Dr. Smith, who joined the top-ranked Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering in 2017, encourages students to get hands on in the lab to research new devices that can aid in stroke rehabilitation.
“I’m always on the lookout for students who are motivated and eager to apply their engineering skillset to address health-related challenges both local and around the world,” Dr. Smith said. “LMU students are teamwork-oriented and strong at thinking about and communicating both the technological and non-technological aspects of engineering design.”
Dr. Smith directs the REhabilitation, Assistive Tech & Human Control Theory Lab (REACT), leading several ongoing research projects that include undergraduate and graduate students. At present, Dr. Smith’s students are developing and researching a wheelchair-based rehabilitation device called RAE, the “Resonating Arm Exerciser”, which promotes movement therapy for the arm to facilitate the restoration of functional movement after stroke.
Additionally, Dr. Smith’s REACT Lab is investigating whether stroke and TBI survivors can benefit from using a robotic driving simulator, originally designed for racing simulation, to assess driving fitness and retrain the cognitive, sensory, and movement skills needed to drive safely.
“I strive to find ways to involve students in all aspects of my research,” Dr. Smith said. “I view it as a conduit for education and mentorship.”
This summer, he plans to extend that mentorship to high school students when he leads LMU’s pre-college program, Exploring Engineering. In this four-week, credit-bearing course, Dr. Smith has designed a curriculum aimed at exposing future change-makers to civil, mechanical and electrical engineering disciplines, showing them how they can use the basic principles of engineering to address some of the world’s greatest challenges.
Recently ranked No. 21 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the country’s best undergraduate engineering programs offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees (2023), LMU is the perfect place for future engineers to get hands on this summer and discover the discipline that is right for them. Dr. Smith’s pre-college course is intentionally reflective of the high caliber curriculum available to students at the undergraduate level. Participating students can look forward to both a fun and impactful experience on LMU’s West Los Angeles campus this summer, benefiting from the university’s close proximity to the aerospace industry and the endless STEM opportunities in nearby Silicon Beach.
“I love the interdisciplinary aspect of a liberal arts education,” Dr. Smith said. “It allows engineering students to practice thinking critically about both technical and non-technical challenges. By exploring a range of topics across the academic spectrum, while learning from the voices and experiences of a diverse student and faculty body, this education prepares our students to become not only well-rounded thinkers and creators, but also the innovative and influential leaders who will shape our profession, and you know, hopefully save the world.”
Apply now to be part of LMU's hands-on summer experience. Complete an application to Exploring Engineering.