Allison M. Okamura

Allison M. Okamura serves as a Professor in Stanford University's Department of Mechanical Engineering with a courtesy appointment in Computer Science, actively teaching courses as recently as the 2024-2025 academic year.

Education

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley (1994)
• MS in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (1996)
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (2000)

Research Interests span tactile interaction systems (haptics), remote-controlled robotics (teleoperation), surgical simulators, rehabilitation technology, and inclusive engineering pedagogy. Her work bridges mechanical engineering and computer science, emphasizing human-robot interfaces for medical applications including prosthetics and neuromechanical therapy.

Scientific Awards

• IEEE Technical Committee on Haptics Early Career Award (2009)
• IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Early Academic Career Award (2005)
• NSF CAREER Award (2004)
• IEEE Fellow

Advising and Grants include supervision of 25+ independent study/thesis courses across Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Aeronautics and Bioengineering. Her NSF CAREER Award supports foundational research, while editorial leadership in IEEE Transactions on Haptics and Robotics and Automation Society demonstrates sustained scholarly influence. No specific grants beyond NSF CAREER are detailed in the source text.