Mark Benden

{{Orphan|date=July 2025}}

{{Infobox academic

{{Infobox academic

| name =Mark Benden

| name =Mark Benden

| workplaces =[[Texas A&M School of Public Health]]

| workplaces =[[Texas A&M School of Public Health]]

}}

}}

'''Mark E. Benden''' is an American ergonomist. He is a professor and director of the Ergonomics Center at the [[Texas A&M School of Public Health]]. In 2023, Benden was elected to the [[National Academy of Inventors]] for his innovations.

'''Mark E. Benden''' is an American ergonomist. He is a professor and director of the Ergonomics Center at the [[Texas A&M School of Public Health]]. In 2023, Benden was elected to the [[National Academy of Inventors]] for his innovations.

==Early life and education==

==Early life and education==

==Career==

==Career==

While working with Johnson & Johnson, Benden completed his PhD in interdisciplinary engineering from Texas A&M and secured a patent for his armrest design.<ref name="stand"/> After 20 years with Johnson & Johnson, Benden joined the faculty at the [[Texas A&M School of Public Health]] in 2008.<ref name="stand"/><ref name="Varidesk">{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rae Lynn |title=Texas A&M faculty-led company acquired by Varidesk |url=https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/texas-am-faculty-led-company-acquired-by-varidesk/|publisher=Texas A&M University Vital Record |access-date=July 7, 2025|date=June 6, 2018}}</ref> During his first year, Benden and colleague Eric Wilke participated in a volunteer medical trip to [[Uganda]]. While in Uganda, the two began developing a new [[ambulance]] that could navigate crowded and narrow streets in rural areas.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Michael J. |title=Innovative Patient Transport Vehicle Navigates Narrow Streets |url=https://www.jems.com/operations/ambulances-vehicle-ops/innovative-patient-transport-vehicle-nav/ |publisher=JEMS |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> This led to the creation of the AmbiCycle, an ambulance that was nine feet long and used three wheels.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williamson |first1=Blair |title=Emergency AmbiCycle designed to save lives in tight spots |url=https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/emergency-ambicycle-designed-to-save-lives-in-tight-spots/ |publisher=Texas A&M University |access-date=February 15, 2024 |date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> At the same time, Benden began conducting studies to test the impact [[standing desk]]s 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.<ref name="x">{{cite web |title=TAMHSC Prof’s Idea Becomes A Business Venture |url=https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2014/01/22/hsc-profs-idea-becomes-a-business-venture/|publisher=Texas A&M Today |access-date=July 7, 2025|date=January 22, 2014}}</ref> From 2011 to 2013, Benden oversaw a study in three Texas elementary schools which found that standing desks had a larger impact on [[childhood obesity]] than regular standard desks over two years.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wendel |first1=Monica L. |last2= Benden |first2=Mark E. |last3=Zhao |first3=Hongwei |last4=Jeffrey |first4=Christina |title=Stand-Biased Versus Seated Classrooms and Childhood Obesity: A Randomized Experiment in Texas |journal=[[American Journal of Public Health]] |date=September 14, 2016 |volume=106 |issue=1 |pages=1849-1854 |url=https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303323?journalCode=ajph |access-date=February 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Crist |first1=Carolyn |title=Could standing desks in school be the answer to how to keep kids fit? |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2922084/could-standing-desks-in-school-be-the-answer-to-how-to-keep-kids-fit/ |publisher=Global News |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=September 5, 2016}}</ref> In 2013, Benden was also promoted to the rank of [[associate professor]] with tenure.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rae Lynn |title=Bolin, Zhao, Rene, Carrillo-Zuniga, Benden, Shipp and McLeroy promoted |url=https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/promotions/ |publisher=Texas A&M University Vital Record |access-date=15 February 2024 |date=August 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250707224050/https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/promotions/|archive-date=July 7, 2025}}</ref>

While working with Johnson & Johnson, Benden completed his PhD in interdisciplinary engineering from Texas A&M and secured a patent for his armrest design.<ref name="stand"/> After 20 years with Johnson & Johnson, Benden joined the faculty at the [[Texas A&M School of Public Health]] in 2008.<ref name="stand"/><ref name="Varidesk">{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rae Lynn |title=Texas A&M faculty-led company acquired by Varidesk |url=https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/texas-am-faculty-led-company-acquired-by-varidesk/|publisher=Texas A&M University Vital Record |access-date=July 7, 2025|date=June 6, 2018}}</ref> During his first year, Benden and colleague Eric Wilke participated in a volunteer medical trip to [[Uganda]]. While in Uganda, the two began developing a new [[ambulance]] that could navigate crowded and narrow streets in rural areas.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ward |first1=Michael J. |title=Innovative Patient Transport Vehicle Navigates Narrow Streets |url=https://www.jems.com/operations/ambulances-vehicle-ops/innovative-patient-transport-vehicle-nav/ |publisher=JEMS |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=November 14, 2012}}</ref> This led to the creation of the AmbiCycle, an ambulance that was nine feet long and used three wheels.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williamson |first1=Blair |title=Emergency AmbiCycle designed to save lives in tight spots |url=https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/emergency-ambicycle-designed-to-save-lives-in-tight-spots/ |publisher=Texas A&M University |access-date=February 15, 2024 |date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> At the same time, Benden began conducting studies to test the impact [[standing desk]]s 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.<ref name="x">{{cite web |title=TAMHSC Prof's Idea Becomes A Business Venture |url=https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2014/01/22/hsc-profs-idea-becomes-a-business-venture/|publisher=Texas A&M Today |access-date=July 7, 2025|date=January 22, 2014}}</ref> From 2011 to 2013, Benden oversaw a study in three Texas elementary schools which found that standing desks had a larger impact on [[childhood obesity]] than regular standard desks over two years.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wendel |first1=Monica L. |last2= Benden |first2=Mark E. |last3=Zhao |first3=Hongwei |last4=Jeffrey |first4=Christina |title=Stand-Biased Versus Seated Classrooms and Childhood Obesity: A Randomized Experiment in Texas |journal=[[American Journal of Public Health]] |date=September 14, 2016 |volume=106 |issue=1 |pages=1849–1854 |url=https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303323?journalCode=ajph |access-date=February 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Crist |first1=Carolyn |title=Could standing desks in school be the answer to how to keep kids fit? |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2922084/could-standing-desks-in-school-be-the-answer-to-how-to-keep-kids-fit/ |publisher=Global News |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=September 5, 2016}}</ref> In 2013, Benden was also promoted to the rank of [[associate professor]] with tenure.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rae Lynn |title=Bolin, Zhao, Rene, Carrillo-Zuniga, Benden, Shipp and McLeroy promoted |url=https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/promotions/ |publisher=Texas A&M University Vital Record |access-date=15 February 2024 |date=August 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250707224050/https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/promotions/|archive-date=July 7, 2025}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cawley |first1=Rusty |title=Classroom Standing Desk Creator Receives 2018 Innovation Award |url=https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2018/05/23/classroom-standing-desk-creator-receives-2018-innovation-award/ |publisher=Texas A&M Today |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=May 23, 2018}}</ref> Stand2Learn was shortly thereafter acquired by Varidesk, a manufacturer of active office products.<ref name="Varidesk"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schnettler |first1=Tim |title=Benden elected as senior member of National Academy of Inventors |url=https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/benden-elected-as-senior-member-of-national-academy-of-inventors/|publisher=Texas A&M University Vital Record |access-date=15 February 2024 |date=February 13, 2019}}</ref> In 2023, Benden was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.<ref name="Inventors"/>

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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cawley |first1=Rusty |title=Classroom Standing Desk Creator Receives 2018 Innovation Award |url=https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2018/05/23/classroom-standing-desk-creator-receives-2018-innovation-award/ |publisher=Texas A&M Today |access-date=February 14, 2024 |date=May 23, 2018}}</ref> Stand2Learn was shortly thereafter acquired by Varidesk, a manufacturer of active office products.<ref name="Varidesk"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schnettler |first1=Tim |title=Benden elected as senior member of National Academy of Inventors |url=https://vitalrecord.tamu.edu/benden-elected-as-senior-member-of-national-academy-of-inventors/|publisher=Texas A&M University Vital Record |access-date=15 February 2024 |date=February 13, 2019}}</ref> In 2023, Benden was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.<ref name="Inventors"/>