Kyle B. Reed

Kyle B. Reed serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Florida's College of Engineering. His academic career at USF has progressed from Assistant Professor (2009-2016) to his current position as Associate Professor (2016-present), following postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University. He teaches specialized courses including Haptics (EML 4593/6594), Mechanical Controls, and Advanced Engineering Mathematics.

Dr. Reed earned his Ph.D. (2007) and M.S. (2004) in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University, and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (2001). Prior to his faculty position, he completed postdoctoral research at Johns Hopkins University's Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (2007-2009) and worked as a researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory (1998-2001).

His research focuses on rehabilitation engineering, haptics, human-robot interaction, and medical robotics, with applications in medical devices and rehabilitation technologies. The REED Lab (Rehabilitation Engineering and Electromechanical Design Lab), which he directs, develops innovative solutions for human motion analysis and assistive technologies. His work bridges fundamental engineering principles with clinical applications, particularly in stroke rehabilitation and assistive device development.

Analysis of his publication record shows consistent contributions to haptics research, human-robot interaction, and rehabilitation engineering. His work spans theoretical investigations of human motor control to practical applications in medical devices, with publications appearing in venues like IEEE Transactions on Haptics, EMBC, and Haptics Symposium. Recent work emphasizes wearable haptic devices, rehabilitation robotics, and human factors in medical technology.

• Developed the Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe (GEMS) prototype during postdoctoral work
• Created minimally invasive steerable needle system for biopsies at Johns Hopkins
• Established REED Lab focusing on rehabilitation engineering and haptic technologies
• Developed innovative haptic devices for communication, rehabilitation, and education

Dr. Reed actively mentors students through the REED Lab, supervising both graduate and undergraduate researchers. His teaching philosophy emphasizes building intuition while providing frameworks for logical problem-solving. He incorporates substantial project components into his courses, with students regularly developing haptic devices and robotics applications that sometimes lead to publications. The lab maintains strong outreach connections, working with K-12 students to promote engineering education.

The REED Lab, located in the Interdisciplinary Research Building Room 114 on USF's Tampa campus, serves as the hub for his research activities. Current projects include wearable haptic devices for communication, diagnostic tools for Parkinson's disease, and rehabilitation technologies for gait analysis. The lab maintains strong connections with both clinical partners and industry, facilitating translational research from concept to application.