Frank Efe Erukainure is a Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Robotics engineer. He is an ICTAS Doctoral Scholar at Virginia Tech (VT). He is also the Winner of the 2026 Boyd-Scott Graduate Research Award, awarded by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) for his Ph.D. research on the detection of Sclerotinia Blight disease in agricultural crop plants, which has been published in the ACS Agricultural Science and Technology journal.

As an ICTAS Doctoral Fellow, Frank works with the Digital Ag Technologies Lab at the VT Tidewater AREC—where he devotes his time to cutting-edge research in biosensing and precision agriculture. Frank's work focuses on developing innovative technologies such as smart wireless sensors and artificial intelligence to address challenges in agriculture and healthcare. With over 3 years of doctoral research, he actively participates in professional and networking events to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. 

Previously, he served as a lecturer and faculty member in the Mechatronics Engineering Department at Federal University Otuoke, where he supported teaching, research, and community development. His academic journey includes an M.Sc. in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering from E-JUST, with publications addressing tactile sensing solutions for soft tissue and agricultural applications, and a B.Engr. in Mechanical Engineering from FUPRE. Frank received the 2020 E-JUST Scholarship in Egypt, where he earned the Master of Science degree in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering at the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST).

Dedicated to advancing technology for societal impact and with over 10 years of experience, Frank is a COREN registered professional engineer, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FNIMechE), a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and a Corporate Member (Full Member) of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE).