New Faculty: Mechanical engineering professor seeks improvements between robotic systems and minimally invasive medical procedures
Published: Aug 31, 2026 2:00 PM
By Staff Report
Timothy Brumfiel
With each passing generation, technical advancements in medical procedures have allowed surgeons to dramatically enhance outcomes for their patients. Through his research, Timothy Brumfiel wants to play a role in this noble development.
Brumfiel, a new assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, is researching ways to improve minimally invasive healthcare procedures through the development of intelligent medical robotic systems.
Learn more about his research, his approach to teaching and what brought him to Auburn.
What are your research interests, and what drew you to this area of work?
I am interested in how surgical devices can be made more flexible, intelligent and easier to navigate within the body. This includes the development of robotic instruments, computational models, control strategies and sensing methods that can expand the capabilities of clinicians, enable new diagnostic and treatment methods and incorporate varying levels of autonomy into the clinical workflow while ensuring patient safety. I've always enjoyed control theory, and applying it to flexible surgical robots presents exciting technical challenges that, if solved, can have a tremendous impact on society.
Tell us about a current research project you’re excited about. What are you hoping to accomplish, and what impact could the work have?
One project I am particularly excited about focuses on developing autonomous endovascular robots, such as robotic catheters. These slender robots navigate through a patient's blood vessels to treat cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death globally. Flexible surgical robots often operate with limited sensing while interacting with deformable anatomy, making it difficult to predict robot motion. My lab is developing methods that account for and take advantage of contact with the anatomy to navigate more safely and effectively.
Complementing this work, we are exploring methods to better understand the robot's surroundings while reducing reliance on X-ray imaging and the associated radiation exposure. Ultimately, this work could help expand access to timely, high-quality medical care in resource-limited environments, such as rural areas, space missions and maritime deployments.
What attracted you to Auburn, and what makes it a good place for you to pursue your research and grow as a faculty member?
I was drawn to Auburn by its welcoming community. It has been clear from the beginning that the faculty not only care about their students, but also about the success of their colleagues. Auburn also has a strong engineering program that provides me with many opportunities to collaborate with researchers, clinicians and industry leaders. As a new faculty member, I wanted to be somewhere I could develop those strong collaborative relationships, involve students in meaningful research and grow professionally.
How would you describe your approach to teaching and mentoring students? What can students expect from you in the classroom?
I strive to create an interactive classroom where students feel comfortable making mistakes, asking questions and actively participating in their own learning. I remember struggling with many topics until they finally "clicked" in my head. My goal is to guide students toward their own "click" moments. In the classroom, students can expect lots of engagement and the occasional plea for movie recommendations.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your work at Auburn?
I enjoy spending time with my little family consisting of my wife, Wendy, our dog, Tucker, and our cat, Mochi. We frequent the farmers market, movie theater and anywhere good food resides.
Media Contact: , pot0004@auburn.edu, 334-844-3591