معرفی
Bahar Haghighat is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Robotics and Automation at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen. She leads the Distributed Autonomous Intelligent Systems (DAISY) Lab as Principal Investigator and contributes to academic governance as a Member of the Faculty Council. Her professional affiliations include the Royal Netherlands Institute of Engineers (KIVI), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and editorial roles with Nature Portfolio Journal Robotics and Springer Nature Journal Autonomous Robots.
Her educational background includes:
- PhD in Robotics, Control, and Intelligent Systems from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland (2018)
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering/Digital Electronics from Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran, Iran
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/Physics (double major) from Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran, Iran
Dr. Haghighat's research focuses on building novel miniaturized robotic swarms and algorithmic frameworks for sensing, surveying, and inspection applications. Her work spans mechatronics, electronics, embedded systems, embedded artificial intelligence and machine learning, and distributed systems. She envisions developing surface, aquatic, and aerial miniaturized robot swarms and small-scale intelligent devices for basic research and commercial applications including inspection of complex structures, environmental monitoring, space exploration, and search-and-rescue operations.
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on swarm robotics, particularly using particle swarm optimization techniques for multi-robot coordination, surface inspection tasks, and spacecraft hull inspection. Her research shows an interdisciplinary approach combining mechatronic design with advanced algorithms for self-assembly and collective decision-making in resource-constrained robotic systems.
Her notable scientific achievements include:
- EPFL's PhD research award of Gilbert Hausmann for the best PhD thesis in mechanical engineering, electricity, and physics (2019)
- EPFL distinction of excellence for a PhD thesis in Robotics, Control, and Intelligent Systems (2018)
- Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (2019)
- Swiss National Science Foundation Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (2017)
- Third place in EPFL's "My Thesis in 180 Seconds" competition (2017)
- EECS Rising Star recognition (2021 at MIT and 2019 at UIUC)
Dr. Haghighat has served as Program Co-Chair for The International Symposium on Distributed Autonomous Robotic Systems (DARS) and has held visiting scholar positions at MIT and Harvard University. Her research has received media attention for applications in Mars rover technology and drone swarms for defect detection. She leads the DAISY Lab, which focuses on distributed autonomous intelligent systems for various inspection and monitoring applications.
