Kristofer Pister

Kristofer Pister is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) at the University of California, Berkeley, and Co-Director of the Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC) and the SWARM Lab. He holds a B.A. in Applied Physics from UC San Diego (1986) and M.S./Ph.D. in EECS from UC Berkeley (1989/1992). His research focuses on MEMS, robotics, low-power circuits, and wireless sensor networks, notably developing the Smart Dust project and micro-robotics systems.

He teaches EE 105 (Microelectronic Devices and Circuits) and advises on projects like crystal-free radios and swarm robotics. His awards include the Alexander Schwarzkopf Prize (2006), Alfred F. Sperry Founder Award (2009), and NSF CAREER Award (1996). Pister co-founded Dust Networks (acquired by Linear Technology) and pioneered innovations in microrobot actuation, implantable sensors, and space exploration swarms.

His labs (BSAC, SWARM) explore MEMS integration, autonomous systems, and energy-efficient communication. Recent work includes crystal-free IoT devices, interplanetary swarm missions (BLISS), and ultrasonic radiation detection implants. Pister emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, with contributions spanning hardware design, control systems, and AI-driven robotics.