Jonathon Schofield

Jonathon Schofield is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on improving assistive medical devices through interdisciplinary approaches combining robotics, neural engineering, and clinical translation. He leads the BEAR Lab, which develops technologies like neural-integrated prosthetic limbs and wearable haptic interfaces to enhance user acceptance and integration with human physiology.

Dr. Schofield’s work emphasizes pediatric applications, particularly for children with congenital limb deficiencies. His team investigates motor intent decoding, sensory feedback systems, and embodiment mechanisms to create more intuitive prosthetic control. Key areas include signal processing (EMG, force myography), haptic sleeve interfaces for space robotics, and standardized testing protocols for upper-limb prostheses.

He has received a prestigious NSF CAREER Award (2024) to advance prosthesis embodiment in children. His research bridges engineering and clinical medicine, with collaborations spanning rehabilitation, neuroscience, and aerospace engineering. The lab also develops open-source prosthetic platforms and low-cost wearable systems for broader accessibility.

Notable contributions include studies on muscle actuation in congenital deficiencies, multi-articulate pediatric prosthetic hands, and vibration-based movement illusions. His work aims to address unmet clinical needs while fostering human-technology symbiosis through principles of embodied cooperation and cognitive-perceptual neurosciences.