Richard R. Neptune

Dr. Richard R. Neptune is a Professor and holder of the William and Bettye Nowlin Chair in Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin's Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has been on faculty since 2001 and focuses on biomechanical research addressing movement disabilities through musculoskeletal modeling, experimental analyses, and advanced prosthetic/orthotic design. His work intersects rehabilitation engineering, sports biomechanics, and neuromotor control.

Education: PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UC Davis. Research emphasizes locomotor impairments, prosthetic optimization, and additive manufacturing applications. Awards include NSF CAREER, Van C. Mow Medal (ASME), and Founders Award (ASB), alongside fellowships in both societies.

• Key collaborations: Medical University of South Carolina, VA Center for Limb Loss, Brooks Rehabilitation
• Lab leadership: Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab with 20+ current/past students/postdocs

Recent publications (2018-2021) focus on wheelchair biomechanics, post-stroke gait recovery, and amputee locomotion dynamics. Active in NIH/DoD-funded projects addressing orthotic design and clinical applications.