Eric Paulos

Eric Paulos is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, directing the Hybrid Ecologies Lab, Master of Design program, CITRIS Invention Lab, and co-directing the Swarm Lab. He holds faculty appointments at the Berkeley Center for New Media and Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation.

He earned his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley, where he pioneered internet tele-operated robots including Space Browsing blimps and Personal Roving Presence devices.

Paulos is a foundational figure in urban computing (coined in 2004) with research spanning critical making, physical computing, and sustainability-focused design. His work consistently bridges Human-Computer Interaction with social justice, emphasizing inclusive prototyping and the societal implications of emerging technologies through hands-on making practices.

His recent publications examine hybrid materials as design mediums, failure-mitigation in creative workflows, and light as computational material, revealing a trajectory toward empowering creators through accessible tool development and critical reflection on technological embodiment.

No scientific awards were explicitly documented in the source material.

He has advised seven PhD students including Katherine Song (2024), Molly Nicholas (2022), Sarah Sterman (2022), Rundong Tian (2021), Christine Dierk (2020), Cesar Torres (2019), and Joanne Lo (2016), with current recruitment for 2026 focusing on technical prototyping skills and equity-centered innovation in the Hybrid Ecologies Lab.

His leadership spans the Hybrid Ecologies Lab (critical making research), Swarm Lab (collaborative robotics), and CITRIS Invention Lab (public fabrication space), fostering interdisciplinary work at the intersection of technology, art, and social impact through facilities like Jacobs Hall and the College of Environmental Design.