Frank is Professor in Economics and a Regional and Innovation Economist working on labour markets, firm dynamics, and the processes shaping spatial economic development. His research examines how firms, workers, and local economic conditions interact to drive patterns of growth, productivity and inequality across regions.

His work sits at the intersection of regional economics, innovation and microeconomics, with a particular focus on how firm and labour dynamics unfold across space and shape long-run economic development.

He has published in leading international journals in regional and urban economics and the economics of innovation, contributing to policy debates on firm behaviour, labour markets and spatial economic development. His research has been supported through competitive funding through national and European agencies, including Horizon Europe and the Irish Research Council.

Frank teaches on the BSc Applied Economics, MSc Business Economics and the Business School's flagship Executive MBA programme. He is the incoming Head of Department of Economics (effective July 2026) and was the inaugural Vice Dean of EDI for the College of Business and Law and Business School (2024-2026).