Alexandre Girard

Alexandre Girard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Sherbrooke, Canada. He joined the university in 2017 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. from MIT (2017), and Master's and Bachelor's degrees from Université de Sherbrooke (2013, 2010). His research spans robotics, control systems, and actuation technologies for applications in healthcare, industrial automation, and human augmentation.

Educational background:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2017)
• M.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke (2013)
• B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke (2010)

Dr. Girard's research focuses on the art of controlling motion, from mechanical design to control laws and planning algorithms. His expertise includes robotics, automation, dynamics, machine learning, and the development of novel actuators (variable gear-ratio, magnetorheological, hydrostatic) for applications in wearable robotics, patient handling, and industrial systems. His work bridges theoretical innovation with practical implementation through industry partnerships.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals strong emphasis on actuator design and control for robotics, particularly wearable and collaborative systems. Key trends include dimensionless analysis (Buckingham Pi theorem) for cross-system generalization, multi-system transfer learning, and multifunctional actuators addressing energy efficiency and task versatility in human-robot interaction.

Scientific awards and distinctions:

• High Distinction in University Teaching (Major Design Project Team), University of Sherbrooke (2025)
• Teaching Award (Robotics Engineering Program Team), University of Sherbrooke (2022)
• Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS D), NSERC (2015)
• Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS M), NSERC (2011)
• 2nd Place at de Florez Design Competition, MIT
• Leonardo da Vinci Medal, Université de Sherbrooke

As principal investigator, Dr. Girard has secured over $2 million in research funding from NSERC, FRQNT, CFI, and industry partners. Major projects include PRL+ ($1.65M, 2025-2031) for PhD readiness development, patient handling robotics with Arjo Canada ($230K, 2021-2026), and smart off-road vehicles with PROMPT-Québec ($39K, 2022-2025). He mentors graduate students in robotics and control systems through courses like Robot Kinematics (GRO640) and Control Systems (GRO501).

He leads the Agile and Dexterous Motion Control Robotic Laboratory at the University of Sherbrooke, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for actuator development and robotic testing. His team collaborates with the NSERC Canadian Robotics Network and industry partners including Arjo, Safran, and Kinova to translate research into healthcare solutions, construction automation, and power line inspection technologies.