Robert W. Adenbaum Professorship in Engineering Innovation & Director, Center for Engineering Human Performance & Wellness

Biomechanics, neural control, locomotion, and robotics

Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1998
M.S., University of Miami, 1994
B.S., University of Central Florida, 1992

Research Summary:

Dr. Ferris’ research focuses on the biomechanics and neural control of human locomotion. Most of his research focuses on human-machine interactions (mechanically and electrically). Projects include both technology development and basic research using mobile brain imaging, robotic lower limb exoskeletons, and bionic lower limb prostheses. The general goal is to identify principles of how humans control their movements and how they learn to use robotic assistance. The results provide guidance for designing robotic devices to assist human walking and running. His laboratory has created several different robotic lower limb exoskeletons to determine how assistance at the ankle, knee, and hip can reduce the energetic cost of locomotion and making walking easier for humans. His laboratory has also translated the technologies to develop a bionic lower limb prosthesis under proportional myoelectric control. Dr. Ferris and his group are also pioneering the use of high-density electroencephalography (EEG) to perform mobile brain imaging with high temporal resolution. This last effort includes both new hardware and software innovations to facilitate removal of motion and muscle artifacts from EEG during walking and running.

Honors and Awards:

• UF BME Faculty Research Excellence Award, 2024
• UF Research Foundation Professor, 2024
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2024
• Fellow, American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), 2023
• Editor-In -Chief, IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 2018-2020
• Founders’ Award, American Society of Biomechanics, 2018
• Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), 2017

Selected Publications:

Google Scholar Citations Link

Brewer M, Childs K, Wilkins C, Smith ZR, Thomas S, Boyer KE, Nichols JA, Beatty GF, Ferris DP (2025) A qualitative examination of the evolving role of sports technology in collegiate coaching. Front. Sports Act. Living 7:1644099.

Barrutia WS, Knuth C, Ferris DP (2025) Design of a lightweight and low-cost knee exoskeleton for human gait assistance. Journal of Medical Devices, in press.

Salminen J, Liu C, Pliner EM, Tenerowicz M, Roy A, Richer N, Hwang J, Hass CJ, Clark DJ, Seidler RD, Manini TM, Cruz-Almeida Y, Ferris DP (2025) Gait speed related changes in electrocortical activity in younger and older adults. Journal of Neurophysiology, 133:1761–1794.

Stafford NE, Gonzalez EB, Ferris DP (2025) Outdoor overground gait biomechanics and energetics in individuals with transtibial amputation walking with a prescribed passive prosthesis and a bionic myoelectric prosthesis. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 41(2): 132–141.

Barrutia WS, Yumiceva A, Thompson ML, Ferris DP (2024) Soft tissue can absorb surprising amounts of energy during knee exoskeleton use. Journal of Royal Society Interface, 21(221):20240539.

Jacobsen NA, Ferris DP (2024) Exploring electrocortical signatures of gait adaptation: differential neural dynamics in slow and fast gait adapters. eNeuro, 0515-23.2024.

Richer N, Bradford JC, Ferris DP (2024) Mobile neuroimaging: What we have learned about the neural control of human walking, with an emphasis on EEG-based research. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 105718.