Vikram Iyer

Vikram Iyer is an Assistant Professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, where he also serves as co-director of the CS for Environment Initiative. He holds an adjunct appointment in Mechanical Engineering and leads interdisciplinary research connecting engineering domains to build end-to-end systems focused on environmental sustainability. His work has been recognized with prestigious awards including an NSF CAREER Award, a SIGMOBILE Dissertation Award, and a Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar award.

Dr. Iyer's research spans multiple areas including sustainable electronics, bio-inspired robotics, and wireless sensor systems. His group develops innovative technologies such as biodegradable and recyclable circuit boards, battery-free robots, wireless sensors that can disperse in the wind, and streaming cameras small enough to mount on live insects. His work on tracking invasive 'murder hornets' for the Washington Department of Agriculture resulted in the destruction of the first nest in the US. Current research focuses on circular fabrication, sustainable polymer design, and ecological human-computer interaction.

His publications reveal a strong trend toward sustainable computing systems, with recent work emphasizing recyclable electronics, life-cycle assessment tools, and bio-inspired designs that minimize environmental impact. His research bridges computer science, mechanical engineering, and environmental science, creating novel approaches to sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary innovation.

• NSF CAREER Award recipient
• SIGMOBILE Doctoral Dissertation Award winner
• Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar
• Amazon Research Award recipient (2022, 2023)
• Google Research Scholar Award recipient
• Sensys 2018 Best Paper Award
• SIGCOMM 2016 Best Paper Award

Dr. Iyer actively mentors a diverse group of students including PhD candidates Kyle Johnson, Vicente Arroyos, and Qiuyue Xue, along with numerous master's and undergraduate researchers. His research has been supported by multiple grants including Amazon Research Awards, Google Research Scholar Award, and NSF funding through his CAREER award. His work has been featured in major media outlets including NPR, CNN, BBC, and Wired.

His lab focuses on creating the next generation of sustainable, bio-inspired wireless systems, including the AGI Labs team working on AI agents and the development of battery-free microrobots and environmental sensors. Current projects include recyclable circuit boards, battery-free robots, origami microfliers, and dandelion-inspired sensors, all aimed at creating more sustainable computing technologies.