Mark Benden
Mark Benden | |
|---|---|
| Born | United States |
| Academic background | |
| Education | BS, 1990, BioEngineering, MSc, 1992, Industrial Engineering, PhD, 2006, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Texas A&M University College of Engineering |
| Thesis | The obese office worker seating problem (2006) |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | Texas A&M University School of Public Health |
Mark E. Benden is an American ergonomist. He is a full professor and director of the Center for Worker Health (formerly known as the Ergonomics Center) at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. In 2023, Benden was elected to the National Academy of Inventors for his innovations.
Early life and education
Benden was raised in Maryland[1] to a machinist father who inspired him to attend Texas A&M University for his Bachelor of Science in bioengineering with a focus on medicine.[2] However, in his senior year, he shifted his career path after taking an elective course on ergonomics by Jerome Congleton. Subsequently, he pursued a Master's degree in industrial engineering.[3] While completing his degrees, Benden was a member of the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets and in the United States Army Reserve. Benden eventually became an officer of the United States Army Reserve and became an engineer for Johnson & Johnson's medical products division (Ethicon) upon the completion of his Master's degree.[1]
Career
After working for six years at Johnson & Johnson, Benden became the Director of Engineering and Development at Neutral Posture Inc.[4] While at Neutral Posture, he completed his PhD in interdisciplinary engineering from Texas A&M and secured a patent for his armrest design.[3] After 10 years with Johnson & Johnson, Benden joined the faculty at the Texas A&M School of Public Health in 2008.[3][5] During his first year, Benden and colleague Eric Wilke began developing a new ambulance that could navigate crowded and narrow streets in rural areas following a medical trip by Wilke to Uganda.[6] This led to the creation of the AmbiCycle, an ambulance that was nine feet long and used three wheels.[7] At the same time, Benden began conducting studies to test the impact standing desks had on technology induced inactivity. This led to the creation of Stand2Learn, a start-up company tasked with developing the classroom version of standing desks for elementary, middle, and high school students that Benden had designed.[8] From 2011 to 2013, Benden oversaw a study in three Texas elementary schools which found that standing desks had a larger positive impact on childhood obesity than regular standard desks over two years.[9][10] In 2013, Benden was also promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure.[11] In 2015 he became the Chair of the Environmental and Occupational Health Department.[4]
By May 2018, Benden's standing desks were used by 100,000 children inside schools in all 50 states and 13 other nations. As a result, he received the 2018 Innovation Award from Texas A&M Technology Commercialization.[12] Stand2Learn was shortly thereafter acquired by Varidesk, a manufacturer of active office products.[5] In 2019, Benden was named an inaugural senior member of the National Academy of Inventors as a result of his inventions to fight childhood obesity and improve classroom ergonomics.[13] In 2023, Benden was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.[2]
Personal life
Benden and his wife Teresa have three sons together.[14]
Selected publications
- Could You Stand to Lose? Weight Loss Secrets for Office Workers (2006, 2008)
References
- ^ a b Schnettler, Tim (March 24, 2022). "Prominent ergonomist, entrepreneur teaches future innovators in the field he loves". Texas A&M University Vital Record. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Martin, Dorian (January 12, 2024). "Mark Benden elected to 2023 National Academy of Inventors". Texas A&M University Vital Record. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c Bounds Socol, Kara (2019). "Taking a Stand". Texas A&M Foundation. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b "Mark Benden, PhD, CPE" (PDF). Texas A&M University. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Rae Lynn (June 6, 2018). "Texas A&M faculty-led company acquired by Varidesk". Texas A&M University Vital Record. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Ward, Michael J. (November 14, 2012). "Innovative Patient Transport Vehicle Navigates Narrow Streets". JEMS. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Williamson, Blair (August 27, 2012). "Emergency AmbiCycle designed to save lives in tight spots". Texas A&M University. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "TAMHSC Prof's Idea Becomes A Business Venture". Texas A&M Today. January 22, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Wendel, Monica L.; Benden, Mark E.; Zhao, Hongwei; Jeffrey, Christina (September 14, 2016). "Stand-Biased Versus Seated Classrooms and Childhood Obesity: A Randomized Experiment in Texas". American Journal of Public Health. 106 (1): 1849–1854. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Crist, Carolyn (September 5, 2016). "Could standing desks in school be the answer to how to keep kids fit?". Global News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Mitchell, Rae Lynn (August 28, 2013). "Bolin, Zhao, Rene, Carrillo-Zuniga, Benden, Shipp and McLeroy promoted". Texas A&M University Vital Record. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Cawley, Rusty (May 23, 2018). "Classroom Standing Desk Creator Receives 2018 Innovation Award". Texas A&M Today. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Schnettler, Tim (February 13, 2019). "Benden elected as senior member of National Academy of Inventors". Texas A&M University Vital Record. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Patton, David. "Mark Benden, PhD, CPE, IDSA Joins the Furniture Section". Industrial Designers Society of America. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
External links
- Mark Benden publications indexed by Google Scholar