Dongming Gan

Dr. Dongming Gan is an Associate Professor in the School of Engineering Technology at Purdue University, part of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. His research focuses on robotics, mechanism design, and human-robot interaction, with an emphasis on compliant systems and wearable devices. He holds PhDs in Robotics and Mechatronics from King’s College London and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Prior roles include postdoctoral work at the Italian Institute of Technology and faculty positions at Khalifa University.

He has authored over 130 journal/conference papers and six patents. His work includes advancements in variable stiffness actuators, soft robotics, and sensor integration for safe human-robot collaboration. Notable awards include the 2023 Freudenstein Young Investigator Award (ASME) and ASME Fellow status.

Current leadership roles include serving as an Associate Editor for Mechanism and Machine Theory, ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, and Robotica. He also chairs major conferences like ASME IDETC-CIE 2025 and IEEE/IFToMM ReMAR 2024. Recent grants total over $900K, including NSF funding for variable stiffness actuators and safe human-robot interaction.

Research interests span robotics design, industrial automation, and bio-inspired systems. His lab (C3RL) develops innovative robotic solutions for healthcare, manufacturing, and human-robot coexistence scenarios.