Nidhi Seethapathi

Nidhi Seethapathi is the Frederick A. (1971) and Carole J. Middleton Career Development Assistant Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. She holds a shared affiliation with the Schwarzman College of Computing. Her research focuses on building predictive computational models to understand human movement, integrating theory, modeling, and experimental approaches. Key areas include analyzing computational objectives in movement decisions (e.g., energy, stability, time), studying internal variables guiding locomotion control, and developing theories of adaptive motor learning.

Her lab emphasizes practical applications in neuromotor rehabilitation and explores strategies to enhance learning efficiency. They employ a 'nails-not-hammers' approach, letting scientific questions drive methodological choices rather than vice versa. Current projects include markerless motion capture for gait analysis and developing therapeutic tools for Parkinson's disease using magnetoelectric nanodiscs.

Seethapathi is actively recruiting graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduates. The lab collaborates across disciplines, combining neuroscience, engineering, and computer science to advance translational research in movement science.