Patrick Slade
Patrick Slade is a bioengineering researcher who combines artificial intelligence, wearable robotics, and biomechanics to improve mobility. At Illinois, he worked with Psyonic on muscle-controlled, low-cost prosthetic hands and earned a B.S.M.E. in 2016; Forbes named him to its 30 Under 30 list in 2016. He completed a mechanical engineering Ph.D. at Stanford, worked as a postdoctoral scholar in Stanford's Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, and coauthored research on wearable energy monitoring, outdoor exoskeletons, and human-in-the-loop optimization. As of October 2026, he is an assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard, where his lab builds tools to measure movement, personalize assistance, and support mobility and navigation.
- Now at
- Harvard University
- Works
- 28
- Citations
- 1,240
- h-index
- 12
- Badges
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 27 October 2026.
Timeline
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By 2016
Prosthetic hands at Psyonic
While studying at Illinois, he works with startup Psyonic on prosthetic hands, focusing on muscle control and low-cost, accessible design. He earns a B.S.M.E. in 2016.
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2016
Forbes 30 Under 30
In 2016, Forbes includes him on its 30 Under 30 list among people with University of Illinois ties; he is a cofounder of Psyonic.
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2021
Real-time energy monitoring
In 2021, he coauthors a wearable system that estimates metabolic energy expenditure in real time from leg sensors. It records 13% cumulative error across common activities, compared with 42% for a smartwatch and 44% for an activity-specific smartwatch.
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2021–March 2022
Stanford PhD and postdoc
He earns a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at Stanford in 2021. By March 2022, he is a postdoctoral scholar in bioengineering at Stanford's Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.
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2022
Outdoor ankle exoskeleton
In 2022, he coauthors a portable ankle exoskeleton and a data-driven method that uses wearable sensors to optimize assistance outdoors. The method identifies optimal parameters four times faster than laboratory methods.
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2024
Human-in-the-loop optimization
In 2024, he coauthors a Nature Perspective on applying human-in-the-loop optimization to human–robot interaction. It maps key decisions for using the method across varied contexts.
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October 2024
Assistant professor at Harvard
By October 2024, he is an assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard. He starts an independent research group and teaches courses as a tenure-track professor.
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As of October 2026
AI for wearable robotics
As of October 2026, he is an assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard SEAS. His research combines wearable robotics, biomechanics, sensing, and artificial intelligence to help people move more easily and safely in everyday life. His lab develops technologies that measure human movement, adapt assistance to individual users, and support people with mobility or navigation challenges.
Career
- NowHarvard UniversityAssistant Professor of Bioengineering
- PsyonicCo-founder
- Stanford UniversityPostdoctoral Scholar in Bioengineering
Education
- 2021Stanford UniversityPh.D.
- 2016University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignB.S.M.E.
Sources and credits
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- Slade reflects on journey from Illinois to Harvard
- Scott Daigle and Patrick Slade Among Forbes 30 Under 30
- Sensing leg movement enhances wearable monitoring of energy expenditure
- Improving health with biomechanics and assistive devices
- Personalizing exoskeleton assistance while walking in the real world
- On human-in-the-loop optimization of human–robot interaction
- Can AI Make Wearable Technologies and Assistive Devices More Helpful?