Robotics Engineering
Michael A. Gennert

Michael A. Gennert

Professor & Director Robotics Engineering Program

Director, Robotics Engineering

Computer Science

Office: 85 Prescott 203

Phone: 508-831-5476

I teach and conduct research to solve problems that will make the world better: safer, healthier, and happier. Working with undergraduates, graduate students, post-docs, and other faculty, we develop robots to inspect trees for invasive insect pests, autonomous boats for monitoring lakes, or medical imaging to improve cancer and heart disease diagnoses and treatment. In my spare time I like to hike, bike, ski, canoe, and play frisbee. View Profile

Nicholas Bertozzi

Senior Instructor

Computer Science

Office: 85 Prescott 207

I am delighted to return to full-time teaching as an instructor in the robotics engineering program at WPI after a long and very satisfying career at Daniel Webster College (DWC) where I had the opportunity to teach courses in engineering design (including CAD/CAM), statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, aerodynamics, and differential equations. ... View Profile

David Cyganski

Professor

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Office: Atwater Kent Laboratories 217

Prior to becoming the Dean of Engineering, ad interim, and subsequent to my work at Bell Laboratories I was a Professor in the ECE department at WPI. I have also held the positions of Vice President of Information Systems and Vice Provost within the WPI administration. In my early career my teaching and research primarily centered upon signal processing and its applications. I have been the recipient of 65+ research grants, funded by DARPA, ARO, NSF, DOJ, FEMA/DHS and the electronics, aerospace and medical industry. ... View Profile

Eugene Eberbach

Teaching Professor

Computer Science

Office: 85 Prescott 213

Professor Eberbach is a faculty member in Computer Science and Robotics Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, USA. He has D.Sc. (2015) degree in Computer Science from AGH University of Science and Technology, Ph.D. (1982) degree in Applied Mathematics, and M.Sc. and Eng. (1977) degree in Computer Science Engineering  both from Warsaw University of Technology, Poland. ... View Profile
Gregory S. Fischer

Gregory S. Fischer

Associate Professor

Director, Automation and Interventional Medicine Laboratory (AIM Lab)
Director, PracticePoint

Mechanical Engineering

Office: 85 Prescott 234

Phone: 508-831-5261

Professor Fischer is a faculty member in Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Engineering with an appointment in Biomedical Engineering at WPI. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2008 from Johns Hopkins University, where he was part of the NSF Engineering Research Center for Computer Integrated Surgery. At WPI he has been an integral part of developing the Robotics Engineering program and teaches primarily junior-level and graduate courses in Robotics. ... View Profile
Jie Fu

Jie Fu

Assistant Professor

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Office: 85 Prescott 222

Phone: 508-831-4963

My research leverages control theory, formal methods, and machine learning to construct adaptive, provably correct cyber-physical systems with respect to complex specifications. The challenges I am currently interested in include: reactive robotic systems under partial information and modeling uncertainty, multi-robot coordination, optimal control of hybrid systems, and design of adaptive semi-autonomous systems. View Profile

Zhi Li

Assistant Professor

Mechanical Engineering

Office: 85 Prescott 223C

My research focuses on robotic manipulator motion control and human arm motion control, which has spread to the design and optimization of robotic systems, teleoperation, haptics, and human-robot interaction. My research thus far has primarily involved medical robots, including exoskeletons, surgical robots, and tele-nursing robots. Currently I am highly interested in the design and motion control of biologically-compatible robots, and improving the usability and availability of nursing/assisting robots with shared autonomy, teleoperation and haptics. View Profile

William R. Michalson

Professor

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Office: 85 Prescott 204

Phone: 508-831-5766

I joined the faculty of the ECE Department in 1991 after leaving Raytheon Company, where I spent approximately 12 years involved with the development of embedded computers for guidance, communications, and data processing systems for spaceborne and terrestrial applications. At WPI I perform research and teach in the areas of navigation, communications, and computer system design. ... View Profile
Cagdas Denizel Onal

Cagdas Denizel Onal

Assistant Professor

Mechanical Engineering

Office: Higgins Labs 105

Phone: 508-831-4857

An integral part of a rewarding academic career is being an educator. It is a wonderful opportunity to work with students and guide their development to fulfill their potential. I enjoy teaching the fundamentals of robotics engineering, science and technology as well as training students in advanced independent research. I aim to teach students about research-based thinking and problem solving, to give them a real career choice to determine their future in further research or the industry. ... View Profile

Carlo Pinciroli

Assistant Professor

Computer Science

Office: 85 Prescott 223B

In 2005 I obtained a Master's degree in Computer Engineering at Politecnico di Milano, Italy and a Master's degree in Computer Science at University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA. I then worked for one year for Iriscube Reply S.p.A. as an IT consultant in several projects for Banca Woolwich, Barclays Bank PLC group. In 2006 I joined IRIDIA, Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium under the supervision of Prof. Marco Dorigo. ... View Profile
Marko B. Popovic

Marko B. Popovic

Asst. Research Professor

Physics

Office: Olin Hall 215 (Office) Olin Hall 017 (Lab)

Phone: 508-831-5378, 508-831-5392

Marko B. Popovic's research interest ranges from fundamental physics, e.g. particle physics, to human neurosensory-motor organization, engineering robotics systems that assist and augment humans, biomechatronics, and bioinspired engineering. ... View Profile
Craig B. Putnam

Craig B. Putnam

Senior Instructor

Associate Director, Robotics Engineering

Computer Science

Office: 85 Prescott 208

Phone: 508-831-6658

After many years in industry, it's time for me to give back. One way I have done that is through my involvement with FIRST Robotics. Over the past 15+ years I have been a FIRST parent, mentor, and team leader. More recently I have been judging in FLL and FRC tournaments at the regional, state, and national level. The other way I give back is through teaching. I take a great deal of pride and pleasure in helping students get off to a good start in their engineering careers. And there is nothing more rewarding than a former student stopping by several years later to say 'Thanks'. View Profile

Kenneth A. Stafford

Associate Teaching Professor

Undergraduate Studies

Office: Higgins Lab 011

Phone: 508-831-6122

Research Staff

Hideyuki Kimpara

Hideyuki Kimpara

Computer Science

Phone: 508-831-5587

Dr. Kimpara is a researcher at Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. (TCRDL) in Japan. He received BS and MS degrees in mechanical and biomedical engineering from Keio University, and a Doctor of Engineering degree from Nagoya University. He joined TCRDL in 2000.  Dr. Kimpara has over 15 years of experience in injury biomechanics research, especially for development of THUMS models. During that period, he also worked at the Bioengineering Center of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, as a visiting scholar. Specific research topics include the development and biofidelity evaluation of human body finite element models, the development of traumatic brain injury evaluation methods, and the measurement and development of active muscle functions and control systems.

Staff

dabaron

Deborah Baron

Administrative Assistant V

Computer Science

Phone: 508-831-4681

Debbie supports the graduate program for Robotics Engineering. In this role, her responsibilities include managing graduate applications, overseeing hiring procedures for research staff, and handling weekly colloquium visits. Debbie brings more than 20 years of experience in retail and business environments. She is the former owner and operator of a full-service bridal shop, and previously served as a flight attendant for United Airlines. She enjoys gardening, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Katherine Crighton

Katherine Crighton

Administrative Assistant VI

Computer Science

Phone: 508-831-6665

Katherine provides administrative support to the Robotics Program. These responsibilities include purchasing supplies for faculty and students, working with the undergraduate program, and overseeing student payroll. She has a B.A. from Bryn Mawr College in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, and so naturally she spent several years in both science fiction and academic STEM publishing. Katherine enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, and watching appalling movies.

Kevin Harrington

Robotics Lab Manager I

Computer Science

Bradley A. Miller

Assoc Dir Robotics Res Ctr

Undergraduate Studies

Office: Higgins Lab

Phone: 508-831-6796

Colleen Shaver

Assoc Dir, Robotics Res Center

Undergraduate Studies

Phone: 508-831-6750

Associated Faculty

First Name Last Name Title Email Phone Extension Office Location
Madhi Agheli Assistant Teaching Professor mmaghelih@wpi.edu 5864 Higgins Laboratories, 109
Scott Barton Assistant Professor sdbarton@wpi.edu 5260 Alden Memorial, 208
Torbjorn Bergstrom Operations Manager torbjorn@wpi.edu 5122 Washburn Shops, 107
Christopher Brown Professor brown@wpi.edu 5627 Washburn Shops, 235
Julian Center Adjunct Professor jcenter@wpi.edu 6363 85 Prescott, 214A
Michael Ciaraldi Professor of Practice ciaraldi@wpi.edu 5117 Fuller Laboratories, 129
R. James Duckworth Associate Professor rjduck@wpi.edu 5204 Atwater Kent Laboratories, 301
Cosme Furlong Associate Professor cfurlong@wpi.edu 5126 Higgins Laboratories, 151
Allen Hoffman Professor ahoffman@wpi.edu 5217 Higgins Laboratories, 107
Xinming Huang Associate Professor xhuang@wpi.edu 5771 Atwater Kent Laboratories, 303
Yuxiang Shawn Liu Assistant Professor yliu11@wpi.edu 4829 Higgins Laboratories, 110
Fred Looft Professor fjlooft@wpi.edu 5369 Atwater Kent Laboratories, 012
Carlos Morato Adjunct Professor cwmorato@wpi.edu    
John Nafziger Adjunct Professor jsnafziger@wpi.edu    
Lenore Rasmussen Adjunct Professor wlrasmussen@wpi.edu 6848 85 Prescott, 214B
Charles Rich Professor rich@wpi.edu 5945 Fuller Laboratories, B25b
Candace Sidner Research Professor sidner@wpi.edu 6637 Fuller Laboratories, 140
Jeanine Skorinko Associate Professor skorninko@wpi.edu 5451 Salisbury Laboratories, 371C
Alexander Wyglinski Associate Professor alexw@wpi.edu 5491 Atwater Kent Laboratories, 230

Affiliated Faculty

First Name Last Name Title Email
Dmitry Berenson Assistant Professor dberenson@wpi.edu
Sonia Chernova Assistant Professor soniac@wpi.edu
Taskin Padir Assistant Professor tpadir@wpi.edu
Eduardo Torres-Jara Assistant Professor etorresj@wpi.edu