Anand Mhatre, PhD

Assistant Professor

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Anand Mhatre

Academic contact

Anand.Mhatre@osumc.edu

Academic information

  • Department: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Research interests

  • Assistive Technology Design & User Testing
  • Data-Driven Engineering
  • New Product Development for Less-Resourced Settings

About

Biography

I am a faculty member in The Ohio State University College of Medicine’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. After completing training as a mechanical engineer, I served in the heavy equipment, software, and semiconductor industries. I returned to academia in 2013 and completed my doctoral and postdoctoral training in the field of rehabilitation science and technology. At the Ohio State University, I lead an international research program focusing on user-centered design, usability testing, and transfer of technologies for older adults and people with disabilities. My research is possible owing to global collaboration in the disability sector. I am funded by national and international grants at the federal and foundation levels, which have resulted in patents, publications, and, recently, an international ISO 7176-32 standard for wheelchairs. I teach seating and mobility in the Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology Certificate program at the Ohio State University.

Credentials

Education

PhD - Rehabilitation Science
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
MS - Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
BE - Mechanical Engineering
University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India

Research

Research interests

  • Assistive Technology Design & User Testing
  • Data-Driven Engineering
  • New Product Development for Less-Resourced Settings

Research Focus

My research focuses on wheelchair design, maintenance and standards. I apply data-driven engineering methods and usability testing to build new tools and technologies for the assistive technology sector nationally and internationally.

Recent Presentations

  • Platform Presentation, ‘Wheelchair part failures and consequences are linked to wheelchair usage, part damage and user characteristics’, Paralyzed Veterans of America Summit, August 2024, Anaheim, CA.
  • Invited Talk, ‘Improving the safety of wheelchair users’, Instituto Nacional De Geriatria INGER México, April 2023, Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Technology Panel Presentation, ‘Using 3D Printing to Empower People with Disabilities to Create Their Own Meaningful Devices’, March 2022, American Occupational Therapy Association Inspire 2022, San Antonio, TX.

Awards and Honors

  • 2023 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Excellence Award
  • NIDILRR FIP, NIH R03, PVA Research Foundation Grants
  • NAM Accelerator and Catalyst Awards – Global Healthy Longevity Competition
  • US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund

More about my research