Frits uses and develops mathematical techniques from the area of dynamical systems to study the shape and dynamics of patterns. He is particularly interested in the question how certain properties of a model describing a natural phenomenon influence the occurrence of patterns. The presence of different spatial and temporal scales often plays a crucial role in his analysis of patterns. Recent work includes stabilizing patterns using control theory, extending pattern formation to dynamically changing domains using mechano-chemical feedback, and investigating the role of autotoxicity in pattern formation in ecological contexts.