In Memoriam Robert M. Nerem, 1937–2020

Abstract

We remember the life of Professor Robert M. Nerem, who made fundamental, enduring contributions to the fields of biomedical and biomechanical engineering in the U.S. and around the world.The field of biomechanical engineering lost a founding pioneer with the passing of Robert (“Bob”) Nerem in Atlanta on Mar. 6, 2020 after a long illness. Bob was born in Evanston, IL, and grew up in the U.S., apart from one year abroad when his parents temporarily moved back to Norway. He began his academic career as an aeronautical engineer, graduating in 1959 from University of Oklahoma with a B.S. degree. He then continued his studies at Ohio State University, obtaining his Ph.D. in 1964 and continuing in the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering as a faculty member. He rose through the ranks to become Full Professor in 1972 while carrying out a vigorous research program in hypersonic flow and heat transfer. During this time, he became interested in human mechanics through a fortuitous contact with NASA researchers, who were interested in studying the effects of vibration on the human body during liftoff and spaceflight.