Bradley Nelson

Bradley Nelson is Professor of Robotics and Intelligent Systems at ETH Zurich, serving as Full Professor since 2002 after prior appointments as Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (1995-1998) and Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota (1998-2002). He chaired the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering from 2005-2007 and currently leads the ETH Electron Microscopy Center (EMEZ).

His academic credentials include:

• B.S.M.E. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• M.S.M.E. from the University of Minnesota
• Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University (1995)

Nelson's research pioneers microrobotics and nanorobotics for biological and medical applications, integrating automation, computer vision, and control systems to develop microscale surgical tools and targeted drug delivery systems. His work bridges engineering precision with healthcare innovation, focusing on minimally invasive medical interventions through nanoscale robotic systems.

His exceptional contributions are recognized by:

• McKnight Land-Grant Professorship and Presidential Fellows Award
• Office of Naval Research Young Investigator and NSF CAREER Awards
• Robotics and Automation Society Distinguished Lecturer designation
• Scientific American 50 recognition (2005) for nanotube manufacturing
• Consecutive Best Paper Awards and RoboCup Nanogram Competition victories (2007, 2009)

Through editorial board service and laboratory leadership, Nelson drives advancements in medical robotics while directing the ETH Electron Microscopy Center to enable cutting-edge nanoscale research across disciplines.