Thomas Secord

Thomas Secord is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. He joined the full-time faculty in fall 2016 after six years at Medtronic where he worked on the development and testing of bio-prosthetic trans-catheter heart valves.

Dr. Secord received his educational training from prestigious institutions:

• PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT
• MS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT
• BS in Mechanical Engineering (with Mathematics Minor) from the University of Minnesota

Dr. Secord's research program focuses on the intersection of robotics and medical devices, specifically addressing actuator performance limitations. His expertise spans dynamics and control of mechanical systems, medical device design, cardiac implant durability testing, medical robotics, and smart materials and actuators. He leads the Secord Lab for Biomedical Robotics and Mechatronics, which provides students with hands-on experience in developing cutting-edge medical technologies. His work has significant implications for improving cardiovascular medical devices through novel sensors and actuators.

Dr. Secord has been recognized for his scholarly contributions with the Best Paper Award from the IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems and was a Best Automation Paper Award finalist at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

As an educator, Dr. Secord teaches courses including Control Systems and Automation (ENGR 410), Advanced Product Design (ETLS 555), and Advanced Controls (ETLS 810). He serves as the Program Director for the M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, guiding the curriculum and development of this graduate program. His industry experience at Medtronic informs his practical approach to engineering education, particularly in medical device development and regulatory processes.

Dr. Secord's laboratory work connects with the broader research ecosystem at the University of St. Thomas, including collaborations with the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and other engineering research centers. His lab is part of the School of Engineering's commitment to hands-on, practical education that prepares students for careers in medical device innovation.