Tycho Fredericks
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5336 USA
- Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, Wichita State University, 1995
- M.S., Industrial Engineering, Wichita State University, 1991
- B.S., Physics, Ursinus College, 1989
- Board Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), 2004
- Ergonomics and design
- Product and service design
- Occupational ergonomics
- Occupational ergonomics
- Seating
- Product design, evaluation and usability
Dr. Tycho K. Fredericks is a distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering at Western Michigan University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. A board-certified professional ergonomist, he has led WMU’s Human Performance Institute for over three decades, driving innovation in human-centered design and workplace safety.
With a prolific academic career spanning more than 30 years, Dr. Fredericks has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications—many in collaboration with undergraduate and graduate students—and secured 45 research grants from government agencies, industry leaders, and private foundations. His work has shaped public safety and ergonomics policy through appointments to several state-level committees, including the Michigan General Industry Safety Standards Commission and the Ergonomics Standard Advisory Committee.
Dr. Fredericks’ research focuses on product design and usability, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and seating ergonomics. His industry collaborations have led to transformative improvements in emergency medical services, healthcare equipment, and office seating. Notably, his partnership with Stryker Medical influenced the usability of stair chairs, birthing beds, and stretchers, while his psychophysical protocol for lumbar support selection was commercialized by Haworth in the Zody chair—the first task chair to feature asymmetrical lumbar support.
His safety-focused projects span diverse domains, from personal protective equipment for roofers to vocal safety in voice-activated devices. Most recently, he along with Dr. John Hoyle have led The ATOM Project (Augmenting the On-scene Medic)—a $1.37 million federally funded initiative using Microsoft HoloLens technology to reduce pediatric medication errors in emergency care. This interdisciplinary effort, in collaboration with WMed and the University of Michigan, exemplifies WMU’s commitment to life-saving research.
In 2012, Dr. Fredericks co-founded WMU’s Master of Science in medical engineering program in partnership with the Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. As the founding program chief, he welcomed the inaugural class in 2018 and continues to hold joint appointments in both the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and WMed.
Awards
- Alpha Pi Mu, Industrial Engineering Honor Society, inducted April 1992.
- Ray H. Witt Management Award, April 2000. Recipient of an international award for the best paper presented on foundry management themes at the American Foundrymen’s Society Casting Congress during a three-year period. Paper: “Ergonomic Issues in the Gray and Ductile Iron Foundry Industry,” Authors: T.K. Fredericks, S. Ramrattan, L. Bringelson.
- Phi Kappa Phi, inducted April 2006. Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society.
- Outstanding Researcher Award, 2007, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Western Michigan University.
- Innovations in Curriculum Award, 2013, Tycho Fredericks, Azim Houshyar, Bob White, The 7th Annual Innovations in Curriculum Competition, Institute of Industrial Engineering.
- Nominee: Distinguished Professor of the Year in the State of Michigan, 2015, Western Michigan University, Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.
- Fellow Award, 2015, Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers.