Frank E. Talke

Frank E. Talke is the CMRR Endowed Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego. His research focuses on medical device technology and information storage systems. He has contributed to advancements in hard disk drive tribology, thermal flying height control, and biomedical innovations like intraocular pressure sensors and 3D-printed endoscopes. Talke holds over 350 publications and 11 patents, with honors including the ASME Medal, Tribology Gold Medal, and membership in the National Academy of Engineering.

Education: Diplom-Ingenieur (1965, University of Stuttgart), M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (1966, 1968, UC Berkeley), honorary doctorate from Technical University of Munich (2005).

Research interests span interdisciplinary fields combining mechanical engineering, materials science, and precision instrumentation. Current projects include medical device development (e.g., biofilm-resistant catheters, detachable bronchoscopes) and information storage tribology. His work emphasizes translational applications in both engineering and healthcare sectors.

• Key Awards: ASME Medal (2008), Tribology Gold Medal (2010), Honorary ASME Membership (2018).
• Grants and Funding: Extensive industry and academic collaborations in disk drive technology and biomedical engineering.
• Labs/Teams: Leads the Center for Memory and Recording Research (CMRR), fostering interdisciplinary research in data storage and medical devices.