People
Director
H. Harry Asada Ford Professor of Engineering
Administrative Contact
Yvette Lai Administrative Assistant. email: yvettel@mit.edu
Research Staff
Graduate Students
John Bell, Ph.D. Candidate
S.M. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2020)
S.B. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2018)
Research Topic: Actuation
Email: jhbell@mit.edu
Hanjun Song, Ph.D. Candidate
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, KAIST (2016)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, KAIST (2014)
Research Topic: Human-SuperLimb Hybrid System
Email: hanjuns@mit.edu
Emily Kamienski, Ph.D. Candidate
S.M. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2021)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering w/ Minor in Computer Science, Georgia Tech (2019)
Research Topic: Elderly Fall Prediction Algorithm and Self-Stabilizing Support Aid
Email: emilyk@mit.edu
Cormac O’Neill, Ph.D. Candidate
S.M. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2021)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering w/ Minor in Aerospace, Caltech (2019)
Research Topic: Manufacturing Robotics for Heavy Industries
Email: croneill@mit.edu
Ravi Tejwani, Ph.D. Student
M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT (2020)
Research Topic: Human Robot Interaction
Email: tejwanir@mit.edu
Kentaro Barhydt, Ph.D. Candidate
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University (2020)
B.S.M.E., Union College (2018)
Research Topic: “Robotic Strap” manipulators for harnessing and lifting humans
Email: kbarhydt@mit.edu
Erik Ballesteros, SM Student
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin (2019)
Research Topic: Supernumerary Robotic Limbs and Robot-Robot Interaction/Collaboration
Email: balleste@mit.edu
Roberto Bolli, SM Student
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Computational Biology, MIT (2021)
Research Topic: Robots for elderly postural assistance and support
Email: rbolli@mit.edu
Jadal Williams, SM Student
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (2021)
Research Topic: Computer Vision Robotics for Heavy Industries
Email: jadal@mit.edu
Jasmine Terrones, SM Student
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Caltech (2022)
Research Topic: Koopman Applications
Email: jterrone@mit.edu
Visiting Engineers
Itta Nozawa, Visiting Scholar
Doctor of Engineering, Ph.D., Osaka Univ. (2018)
M.S. in Engineering, Osaka Univ. (2015)
B.S. in Engineering, Osaka Univ. (2013)
Research Topic: Manufacturing Robotics for Heavy Industries, Koopman operator theory
Email: nozawa@mit.edu
Kensuke Asaba, Visiting Scholar
M.S. in Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Waseda Univ. (2014)
B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Waseda Univ. (2012)
Research Topic: Autonomous Robot Control for Construction and Mining
Email: kensukea@mit.edu
Hirofumi Itagaki, Visiting Scholar
Doctor of Engineering, Ph.D., Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (2013)
Research Topic: Eldercare robots
Email: itagaki@mit.edu
Undergraduate Researchers
Quinn Bowers, Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2023)
Research Topic: Manufacturing Robotics for Heavy Industries
Chengyuan Ma, Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT (2025)
Research Topic: Human Robot Interaction
Lab Alumni
Nicholas Hensel
Yuta Kamoshita, Research Topic: Design and control of autonomous mining equipment
Daniel Kurek, Research Topic: Design and control of wearable robots focusing on enhancing and supporting people in manufacturing settings
Jun Maruyama, M.S. Research Topic: Station Information Service Project.
Kosuke Takeuchi, M.S. Research Topic: Mechanical Design and Control, Wearable Robots for Assisting Manufacturing Tasks
Zack Bright, M.S. Research Topic: Shoulder Mounted Supernumerary Robotic Limbs and interfaces for human augmentation in manufacturing
Federico Parietti, Ph.D. Research Topic: Wearable robots for human augmentation. Design and control of man-machine interfaces that expand the skills of the human user
James Torres, Ph.D. Research Topic: the use of PZT actuators and mechanical strain amplification mechanisms for practical applications.
Chengyuan Yan, M.S. Research Topic: Guidance, navigation and control of robots in public spaces.
Baldin Llorens – Bonilla, M.S. Research Topic: Control and Coordination of Wearable Robots, Human – Machine Interfacing.
Lluis Enric Penalver-Aguila, M.S. Research Topic: the development of lightweight and efficient actuators through the combination and form factor optimization of PZT powered, rolling contact buckling actuators.