Research Scientist

David Fries is an interdiscplinary Research Scientist, at IHMC. Fries’ research interests span a wide range of disciplines and fields exploring the underlying thread of technology as an amplifier for exploration and discovery of the natural world and the human condition. He is especially interested in applying technology to the ocean world, or “inner space.”

Specific technical interests include the development of microsystems and robotics/automation for sensing applications, advanced sensor development (e.g. chemical, physical and biological probes technologies) and mobile robotic systems for field applications. His technical activities also touch upon advancements in advanced manufacturing technology, systems technology, medical instrumentation, technology commercialization, and even arts-science.

Fries is interested in the practical application of technology and the advancement of science in general. He is co-founder and CTO of Spyglass Technologies an ocean sensor technology corporation and is founder and President of the nonprofit SciFlies, the original crowdsourced science funding organization. He was an original member of the University of South Florida’s Center for Ocean Technology, where he began the field of underwater mass spectrometry. He is also founder of Intelligent Micro Patterning, a precision electro-optics company. He was an original author of the National Forensic Science and Technology Center, has 35 patents issued, licensed 12 technologies while at the university, and has over 60 publications in oceanography, analytical chemistry, ocean technology, biotechnology, chemistry, microtechnology, electronics and robotics. He has held a past appointment at Sandia National Laboratories/Lockheed Martin in the nuclear weapons program and defense aerospace and holds a BS in Chemistry (University of Pittsburgh) and a MS in Chemistry (University of South Florida) focused on natural product chemistry. He was also the university’s inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence, and held positions in the Colleges of Marine Science and Engineering and Arts, simultaneously.