Frank Steven Bates (born 1954, New York, New York) is an American chemical engineer and materials scientist. Bates is a Regent's Professor (2007–present), a Distinguished McKnight University Professor (1996–present), and department head (1999-2014) in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota, where he has been a faculty member since 1989. Prior to his appointment at the University of Minnesota, Bates was a member of the technical staff at AT&T Bell Laboratories from 1982-1989.