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Department Chair Environmental & Occupational Health & Director of the Ergonomics Center, Texas A&M University

Mark E. Benden PhD CPE received his BS in BIEN, MS in IE and PhD from Texas A&M. His career includes experience as an officer in the United States Army Reserve, inventor (19 US Patents), Rehabilitation Engineer, an Ergonomics Consultant, plant & corporate Ergonomics Engineer for Johnson & Johnson, Executive Vice President for Neutral Posture and is currently an Associate Professor at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, where he serves as Director of the Ergonomics Center. He has also been CEO of three faculty led startups; PositiveMotion LLC, Stand2Learn LLC and Wellness Code LLC. He is an experienced consultant and expert witness with clients including ExxonMobil, GSK, NOV, AON, Rubbermaid, Bechtel, Sysco, Conoco and Linak.

His 30-year career in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics has produced multiple processes, tools and devices to ease injury and illness risk and improve comfort and productivity. Many of those devices created competitive advantage for his employers and many are still active intellectual property protected by 22 US Patents with multiple patents pending. Sales of those items carrying his patent #’s have totaled over $500 million and the expected lifetime economic impact of those designs exceeds $2 Billion.

Most recently, he has focused on his theory of Technology Induced Inactivity and the manner in which our sedentary lifestyles are increasingly influencing poor health outcomes, obesity and type-2 diabetes. Central to this effort has been adult and child focused research that evaluates his concept of a Stand-Biased Workstation to increase physical activity. He has also been involved in multiple transportation, general safety and healthcare related inventions and research efforts and prior to the Covid pandemic had initiated research on the impact of remote work on well-being.

Dr. Benden is the author of many articles, books and book chapters on Ergonomics and has been called upon to lecture at multiple professional groups throughout the United States, Canada, Europe the Caribbean and Central and South America. Dr. Benden received certificate #706 from the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics Inc. as a Certified Professional Ergonomist. He is an active member of the Institute for Industrial Engineers, The American Society of Safety Engineers and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Experience

  • 2021–present
    Chair professor, Texas A&M University

Honours

Senior Member, National Academy of Inventors