Professor John Frink,[1] sometimes referred to as Doctor Frink[4] or Dr. Jonathan Frink, Jr.,[5] is Springfield's local scientist and a professor at either Springfield Heights Institute of Technology[1] or Springfield University,[2] and is extremely brilliant, though somewhat socially inept. Frink often tries to use his bizarre inventions to aid the town in its crises, but they usually only make things worse. He is a recurring character in The Simpsons and a supporting character in The Simpsons