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James McCann is an Associate Professor at the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, where he leads the Carnegie Mellon Textiles Lab. He has been a faculty member since May 2017 after working at Disney Research Pittsburgh. McCann's academic journey includes a PhD from Carnegie Mellon advised by Nancy Pollard, followed by a postdoc at Adobe Research and a period developing video games. McCann's research focuses on building creative tools that operate in real-time and build user intuition, with particular emphasis on textiles fabrication and machine knitting. His work spans computer-aided fabrication, simulation, graphics, and creative tools development. He has pioneered systems for machine knitting design, including compilers for knitting instructions and tools for automatic conversion of 3D meshes to knitting patterns. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward computational textiles, with significant contributions to knitting semantics, deployable textile structures, and applications of machine knitting in healthcare and robotics. McCann's work bridges computer science, robotics, and textile arts, creating practical systems for once-off manufacturing with industrial knitting machines. McCann actively mentors students, with current PhD candidates working on solid knitting machines, knit calibration, and assistive devices. His teaching portfolio includes courses on Real-Time Graphics, Algorithmic Textiles Design, and Game Programming. He has taught at CMU since 2017, developing innovative courses that blend computer science with physical fabrication. As director of the Textiles Lab, McCann oversees research projects spanning machine knitting, robotic painting, and real-time graphics systems. His lab develops practical tools for creators, emphasizing intuitive interfaces and real-time feedback that lower barriers to advanced fabrication techniques.

• Textiles Manufacturing
• Computer-Aided Fabrication
• Real-time Systems
• +5 more

Anthony Rollett is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University , where he has been a faculty member since 1995. He serves as the Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the NASA-supported Institute for Model-Based Qualification & Certification of Additive Manufacturing (IMQCAM) and co-director of the Next Manufacturing Center . Prior to CMU, he held leadership roles at Los Alamos National Laboratory (1991-1995). Education: Ph.D., Materials Engineering, Drexel University (1987) MA, Metallurgy and Materials Science, Cambridge University (1977) Research Interests: Rollett’s work focuses on microstructural evolution and microstructure-property relationships in 3D using experiments and simulations. His expertise spans additive manufacturing , metal 3D printing , materials for energy systems , grain growth , recrystallization , and stereology , with techniques like high-energy diffraction microscopy (HEDM) and dynamic x-ray radiography (DXR) . Scientific Contributions: He has over 320 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index >80 . His recent articles highlight machine learning for laser processing , fatigue analysis of additively manufactured alloys, and design optimization for heat exchangers in supercritical CO2 and solar thermal applications . Scientific Awards: Fellow of ASM International (1996) Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK) (2004) Fellow of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) (2011) Cyril Stanley Smith Award (TMS, 2014) Member of Honor, French Metallurgical Society (2015) US Steel Professor (2017) Francqui International Professor (2020-2021) International FAME Award (2023) Leadership & Impact: Rollett co-led the development of a NASA Space Technology Research Institute for additive manufacturing and established a new master’s program in additive manufacturing (2018). His research group is funded by industry , federal agencies , and Pennsylvania state grants . He also serves on the Basic Energy Science Advisory Committee and Defense Programs Advisory Committee for the Department of Energy.

• Additive Manufacturing
• Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing
• Digital Twins
• +6 more

Burak Ozdoganlar is a Ver Planck Endowed Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Associate Director of the Engineering Research Accelerator. He holds courtesy faculty positions in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. Ozdoganlar earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan (1999), M.S. degrees from Ohio State University (1993, 1995), and a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (1991). Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan (1999) MS, Mechanical Engineering, Ohio State University (1995) MS, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Ohio State University (1993) BS, Aeronautical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University (1991) Ozdoganlar’s research focuses on multi-scale manufacturing processes (macro/micro/nano), precision engineering , structural dynamics , and modal testing , with applications in biomedical device fabrication , microneedle arrays , soft electronics , and 3D ice printing for vascular networks. His work bridges computational modeling with experimental validation. Recent scientific awards include the 2023 AIMBE College of Fellows induction, ASME Fellow (2019), and NSF CAREER Award (2006). He served as interim CTO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute and chaired the ASME-MED Manufacturing Equipment Technical Committee. Ozdoganlar leads projects in scalable manufacturing for implantable medical devices , bioelectric medicine , and wearable robotics . His lab develops 3D ice-printed vascular templates for tissue engineering and liquid metal circuits for soft electronics, funded by institutions like the Manufacturing Futures Institute and ARPA-H.

• Manufacturing Processes
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• +7 more

Chris Harrison is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science, directing the Future Interfaces Group . His research focuses on novel human-computer interaction technologies, including haptics, AR/VR/XR, and ubiquitous computing. Research Interests: Ubiquitous Computing, Human-Centered AI, Physical Interfaces (Sensing, Haptics, Fabrication), AR/VR/XR, Social Computing Advisees: Daehwa Kim, Nathan DeVrio, Vimal Mollyn, Vivian Shen Scientific Recognition: Forbes 30 Under 30 (Science), MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35, Smithsonian Innovator (2013), Google/Microsoft/Qualcomm Fellows Contact: chris.harrison@cs.cmu.edu His recent publications explore advanced haptic systems (Reel Feel, Fluid Reality), body-centric sensing (SkinTrack), and environment-embedded interfaces (Wall++). Current work integrates UWB/IMU fusion for pose estimation and synthetic jet haptics.

• Ubiquitous Computing
• Human-Centered AI
• Physical Interfaces
• +5 more

Levent Burak Kara is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with a courtesy appointment in the Robotics Institute. He is a leading researcher in AI-driven computational design, additive manufacturing, and intelligent engineering systems, leading the Visual Design and Engineering Lab (VDEL) at CMU. Education: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University (1998) M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2000) Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2005) His research focuses on integrating machine learning, optimization, and geometric modeling to revolutionize engineering design and manufacturing. Key areas include topology optimization, CAD intelligence, digital twins, generative design, bioengineering, and electronic design automation. His work enables automation of traditionally labor-intensive design processes using deep learning and reinforcement learning. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward physics-informed surrogate modeling, real-time simulation, manufacturability prediction, and AI-driven automation in mechanical, biomedical, and electronic systems. These works frequently appear in top journals such as Journal of Mechanical Design and Journal of Applied Mechanics , and at premier conferences like NeurIPS and DAC. Scientific Awards: National Science Foundation CAREER Award ASME Design Automation Society Young Investigator Award Google AI for Social Good Impact Scholar Kara advises several Ph.D. students and has secured significant funding from federal agencies such as the NSF and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, as well as collaborations with industrial leaders including Cadence Design Systems and NVIDIA. His research is also supported by CMU’s NextManufacturing Center and the Critical Technology Initiative. He is actively involved in developing intelligent design systems that leverage AI to automate product design, optimize manufacturing processes, and improve medical diagnostics, particularly in oral cancer screening and organ preservation. His lab, VDEL, is a hub for innovation in AI-enabled engineering.

• Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computational Design
• +12 more

Golan Levin is Professor of Electronic Art at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Art, with courtesy appointments in the School of Design, School of Architecture, School of Computer Science, and Entertainment Technology Center. From 2009 to 2022, he served as Director and Co-Director of CMU's Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, a laboratory dedicated to supporting atypical, anti-disciplinary research at the intersection of arts, science, technology, and culture. Levin's research spans interactive art, digital fabrication, information visualization, and generative design. He explores the critical potential of visualization, generative computation for expressive form, and how abstraction connects to realities beyond language. His practice engages interactive gestural robotics, nonverbal interaction aesthetics, and tactical applications of personal digital fabrication through responsive artifacts and media provocations that highlight human-machine relationships. His publications reveal consistent innovation in real-time audiovisual systems, interactive fabrication interfaces, and pedagogic tools for artists. Key trends include slit-scan video techniques, tangible augmented-reality performance, and noise-based visualizations, demonstrating his commitment to expanding human action vocabulary through digital media while bridging artistic expression with computational systems. Levin's work has received significant recognition: Permanent collection inclusion at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Whitney Biennial exhibition "50 Designers Shaping the Future" by Fast Company (2012) Competitive grants from National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Creative Capital, and Rockefeller MAP Fund As an educator, Levin teaches "studio courses in computer science" on interactive art, experimental capture, and generative design, emphasizing computation as a medium for critical inquiry. His research funding from major cultural institutions supports interdisciplinary exploration at the arts-technology nexus. The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, which he directed for 13 years, remains a vital hub for anti-disciplinary collaboration, continuing his legacy of fostering creative agency through technology-infused artistic practice.

• Interactive Art
• Digital Fabrication
• Information Visualization
• +4 more

Joshua D. Bard is an Associate Professor and Associate Head for Design Research at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Architecture. His work bridges traditional craft and cutting-edge robotics, focusing on human-machine collaboration in construction domains. He leads Archolab, an award-winning research group exploring digital fabrication methods like 'Morphfaux' (robotic plaster techniques) and 'Spring Back' (parametric steam bending). Education: M.Arch (Distinction) from University of Michigan; B.A. in Literature & Philosophy from Wheaton College. Professional affiliations include the Manufacturing Futures Institute and rob|arch. Research emphasizes reviving historical crafts through digital tools, such as augmented reality interfaces for architectural education and thermal-tuned concrete panels via robotic processes. His teaching includes generative modeling and architectural robotics labs. Awards: Architect Magazine R+D Award, Canadian Wood Council Merit Award Key Projects: Plaster ReCast AR app, Thermally Informed Robotic Concrete Panels Collaborators: Dana Cupkova, Garth Zeglin, Steven Mankouche Current courses include 62-225 Generative Modeling and 48-555 Introduction to Architectural Robotics. His work is featured in venues like the Carnegie Museum of Art and academic journals like International Journal of Architectural Computing .

• Robotic Fabrication
• Architectural Design
• Human-Machine Collaboration
• +4 more

Professor Jim Bain is a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with a courtesy appointment in Materials Science and Engineering. He serves as Associate Department Head for Academic Affairs (since 2018) and Associate Director of the Data Storage Systems Center (DSSC). Bain holds a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania (1988) and M.S./Ph.D. from Stanford University (1991/1993), both in Materials Science and Engineering. His research focuses on magnetic, optical, and thermal devices/materials for information storage, including heat-assisted magnetic recording and resistive switches for memory. He co-authored over 225 papers and led initiatives in storage systems architecture, thin-film materials fabrication, and energy-efficient storage solutions. Bain is a senior member of IEEE Magnetics, IEEE Electron Devices, and IEEE Photonics Societies. Education: Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 1993 M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, 1991 B.S.E. Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 1988 Key Contributions: Overhauled ECE's undergraduate course 18-100 (Introduction to ECE) Streamlined graduate student processes (qualifying exams, petitions) Recipient of 2016 IEEE ICC Best Paper Award for work on resistive memory codes Research Labs/Teams: Data Storage Systems Center (DSSC) Multidisciplinary collaborations with Western Digital Research

• Information Storage Systems
• Magnetic Recording Technologies
• Resistive Switches
• +3 more

Daniel Cardoso Llach is an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Architecture , where he chairs the Master of Science in Computational Design program and co-directs the CoDe Lab . His scholarship merges history, science and technology studies (STS), and computational design , focusing on the cultural and socio-technical dimensions of design automation. Education: PhD and MS in Architecture: Design and Computation from MIT , BArch from Universidad de los Andes Research Grants: Supported by the Graham Foundation for historical CAD exhibitions and by the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation for postwar computational design research in Germany His work interrogates the politics of software, the materiality of computational systems , and the ethical implications of AI/robotics in architectural practice. Recent projects include reconstructing early CAD systems and analyzing data-driven urban technologies. Scientific awards include: Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship (2024–2025) ACM CSCW Methods Mention for emulation-based software research (2021)

• Architectural Automation
• Human-Machine Interaction
• Digital Technology History
• +3 more

Bradley Schmerl serves as a Principal Systems Scientist in the Software and Societal Systems Department (S3D) within Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. His research advances software engineering practices for modern challenges in distributed heterogeneous systems, self-adaptation, and cyber-physical integration. He leads the ABLE research group and actively mentors students in the Masters in Software Engineering program while teaching core courses like Software Architecture and Software Engineering Practicum. Dr. Schmerl's work addresses critical challenges in composing continuously evolving software systems, including components from untrusted third parties and on-the-fly recomposition for environmental changes. His research develops reusable, analyzable tools for software composition with emphasis on model-based adaptation, uncertainty management, and cross-language integration. Key projects include Rainbow for runtime architecture reflection, Acme for formal architectural foundations, and Cyber-physical Systems research linking software models with physical dynamics. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals intensifying focus on robotics software architecture (particularly ROS-based systems), explainable AI for architectural tradeoff analysis, and configuration management in adaptive systems. Trends show growing integration of machine learning for auto-tuning, empirical studies of misconfigurations, and dimensionality reduction techniques for visualizing design spaces—consistently bridging theoretical rigor with practical tool development for real-world applications. Scientific Awards: No specific awards were documented in the source materials. Dr. Schmerl serves as Practice Area Lead and mentor in CMU's Masters in Software Engineering program, guiding client projects including Rainbow UI for self-adaptive framework interfaces, CoBot UI for telepresence robots, and Educational Telepresence Tasking Language development. His research receives support through ABLE group projects funded by grants targeting software architecture foundations, adaptation mechanisms, and cyber-physical system validation. As a core member of the ABLE research group, he directs investigations into architecture-based self-adaptation with active projects spanning Rainbow (runtime architecture models for dynamic adaptation), Acme (formal architectural styles and tools), and Cyber-physical Systems (software-physical model integration). The group also maintains legacy work in End-User Architecting, Architecture Evolution, and service-oriented platforms for intelligence analysis through SORASCS.

• Software Engineering
• Software Architecture
• Self-Adaptive Systems
• +5 more

Shawn Litster is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, where he leads cutting-edge research in sustainable energy conversion technologies. He is affiliated with the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation and serves as a Scott Institute Energy Fellow, contributing to major national initiatives in hydrogen and fuel cell systems. His work is supported by significant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), ARPA-E, and the Office of Naval Research. Education: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (2008) Master of Applied Sciences, University of Victoria (2005) Bachelor of Engineering, University of Victoria (2004) His research focuses on micro- and nanoscale transport phenomena in electrochemical energy systems such as fuel cells, batteries, and electrolyzers. Key interests include electrochemistry, multiphase flow in porous media, microfluidics, catalytic gasification, and computational fluid dynamics . He pioneers innovations in ionomer-free electrodes, high-oxygen-permeability materials, and low-iridium anodes to improve efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness. His recent publications (2021–2025) reveal a strong trend toward advanced diagnostics, operando characterization, machine learning integration, and multiscale modeling of fuel cell and electrolyzer systems. These works emphasize performance optimization, degradation analysis, and material innovation for heavy-duty and transportation applications. Scientific Awards: George Tallman Ladd Research Award, Carnegie Mellon University National Science Foundation CAREER Award Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal, University of Victoria Best Paper/Presentation Award, The Electrochemical Society Best Paper/Presentation Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Litster has secured over $50 million in research funding as a sub-awardee in DOE hydrogen projects and led a $3.2M ARPA-E OPEN 2021 project on disruptive fuel cell electrodes. He is an inventor on two U.S. patents related to fuel cell design. He advises graduate students and leads the Laboratory for Transport Phenomena in Energy Systems , where his team develops novel materials and diagnostics for next-generation energy technologies.

• Energy Conversion Technologies
• Fuel Cells
• Batteries
• +15 more

Daragh Byrne is an Associate Teaching Professor at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture , with courtesy appointments in the School of Design and Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) . Previously an Assistant Research Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Arts, Media and Engineering, he manages the NSF-funded XSEAD project and leads MakeSchools , a catalog of making practices in higher education. PhD in Digital Media from Dublin City University (2011) M.Res. in Design and Evaluation of Advanced Interactive Systems from Lancaster University B.Sc. in Computer Applications from Dublin City University His research explores experiential media systems through Internet of Things and tangible interaction design , focusing on how computational tools can capture human experience and enable multidisciplinary collaboration. Key projects include Sentient Concrete (thermochromic architectural surfaces) and Spooky Technology (speculative design around invisible technologies). He has developed CMU’s Designing for the Internet of Things course since 2016, creating hands-on curricula for connected product design. Recent publications examine creative physical computing education , AI-driven documentation systems , and XR-enabled skill training . Awards include multiple CMU research grants and the CHI 2018 Best Paper Award . He actively advises PhD and Masters students in Computational Design, emphasizing human-centered design and speculative technology research .

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Tangible Interaction Design
• +4 more

Sam Pagliarini is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he leads research in hardware security and trustworthy integrated circuit design. Prior to joining CMU in 2024, he directed the Centre for Hardware Security at Tallinn University of Technology (2019–2023). He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Télécom Paris (France, 2013), an M.S. in Microelectronics from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil, 2011), and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the same institution (2008). His research focuses on securing hardware design pipelines, including EDA tools for secure chips, countermeasures against hardware trojans, and obfuscation techniques to protect intellectual property. He has pioneered work on reconfigurable-based obfuscation (ReBO), layout-effect-based security mechanisms, and post-quantum cryptographic accelerators. Recent efforts include collaborations on post-quantum cryptography vulnerabilities and silicon demonstrations of hardware trojan insertion methods. Prof. Pagliarini's work spans academia and industry, with contributions to both theoretical frameworks (e.g., SCARF framework for chip security) and applied solutions like the G-GPU ASIC accelerator generator. His research has addressed emerging threats in the IC supply chain and explored trade-offs between security, performance, and design complexity in post-silicon manufacturing.

• Hardware Security
• Chip Design
• Electronic Design Automation (EDA)
• +7 more

Patrick Carrington, an Assistant Professor at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute within Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science , is a leading researcher in Accessibility and Assistive Technology . His work focuses on designing technology to enhance the lives of individuals with diverse abilities, particularly through Wearable Technology , Chairables , and Non-Visual Interaction . He is affiliated with the AXLE Lab and teaches courses like Special Topics: Accessibility and Programming Usable Interfaces . Education : Ph.D. from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2017) Dr. Carrington's research explores: Accessibility for people with visual and motor impairments Wearable and Chairable Computing for wheelchair users Non-Visual Interaction in daily activities Assistive Augmentation of existing devices His publications analyze the intersection of Ubiquitous Computing and Human Factors , including studies on Cooking , Autonomous Navigation , and LLM-based Communication Assistance for autistic workers. Scientific awards include: Best Student Paper (ASSETS 2024) Best Paper Award (Top 1%, ASSETS 2019) Best Paper Honorable Mention (Top 5%, CHI 2020, ASSETS 2018, ASSETS 2015, CHI 2014) Dr. Carrington advises students such as Yunzhi Li and Franklin (Mingzhe) Li , and his work often involves Grants from ACM and other institutions. He also contributes to Labs and Teams like the AXLE Lab, focusing on future directions in Accessible Design and Human Empowerment through Technology .

• Accessibility
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Wearable Technology
• +4 more

Dr. Vernelle A. A. Noel is the Lucian and Rita Caste Assistant Professor in Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Architecture. She directs the Situated Computation + Design Lab , focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to computational design, exploring intersections of traditional practices, digital technologies, and societal impacts. Her work emphasizes critical computational design, craft preservation, and the socio-cultural dimensions of emerging technologies. Education includes a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University, M.S. in Architecture Studies from MIT, B.Arch. from Howard University, and a Civil Engineering diploma from the John S. Donaldson Technical Institute (Trinidad & Tobago). She has held academic positions at Georgia Tech, University of Stuttgart, University of Florida, Penn State, MIT, and Singapore University of Technology & Design. Research interests span computational design methodologies, embodied cognition in architecture, and cultural preservation through digital tools. Recent projects include studies on mindful body approaches to spatial design and the revival of traditional crafts like wire-bending in Trinidad’s Carnival through computational techniques. She has received grants from the Graham Foundation , Mozilla Foundation , and ideas2innovation (i2i) . Recipient of the DigitalFUTURES Young Award for exceptional research in critical computational design, she is also a TEDx speaker ( The Power of Making: Craft, Computation, and Carnival ). Active in academic governance, she serves on the board of ACADIA (Association for Computer-Aided Design in Architecture) . Teaching includes courses such as 62-275: Fundamentals of Computational Design and 48-716: MSCD Pre-Thesis II , emphasizing critical technical practice and shape grammars. She leads workshops integrating craft traditions with digital fabrication, such as the Tradigital Wire-Bending initiative exploring Trinidadian carnival practices. Her lab’s recent initiatives include organizing panels on Embodied Knowledge and Technological Distancing at 4S conferences and co-editing the book Critical Computational Relations in Design, Architecture and the Built Environment .

• Computational Design
• Critical Computational Design
• Architectural Theory
• +5 more