Julie Shah ’04, SM ’06, PhD ’11 has been appointed as the new head of MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro). An MIT alumnus, Shah holds the prestigious role of H.N. Slater Professor in the department.
Shah’s appointment is primarily due to her robust record of providing forward-thinking and cross-disciplinary leadership. Her contributions to robotics and AI are deemed significant, notably in areas concerning the future of work. She has been instrumental in addressing the social, ethical and financial implications of AI and computing.
Before acquiring her new role, Shah was a faculty member in AeroAstro and served as an associate dean of Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing at the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing from 2019 to 2022. As part of her responsibility, she helped launch a curriculum that involves over 2,000 students annually. Currently, she is in charge of the Interactive Robotics Group at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) and MIT’s Industrial Performance Center.
Shah’s Interactive Robotics Group conducts research, focusing on developing robotic teammates that enhance human ability, and envisioning the future of work. Moreover, Shah has successfully utilized human cognitive models in AI and implemented these developments in fields like manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and defense.
In 2020, Shah, an expert on human-robot interaction in the workforce, co-authored the best-selling book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting Robots” that explores human-robot collaboration future. The same year, she was appointed co-director of the Work of the Future Initiative at MIT, which aims to comprehend how generative AI tools can promote better jobs and ensure access to cutting-edge technologies across various sectors.
Shah, throughout her career, has received numerous accolades for her research and pedagogical contributions. Some of these recognitions include becoming an associate fellow of the AIAA in 2017, receiving the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Academic Early Career Award in 2018 and being included in MIT Technology Review’s list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies in 2013.
In January 2024, Shah was appointed to the first-ever AIAA Aerospace Artificial Intelligence Advisory Group to promote AI technology’s optimal use in aeronautics and space. She is currently the editor-in-chief of Foundations and Trends in Robotics and an executive council member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
As an educator, Shah has a reputation for her collaborative and supportive approach as a mentor. In 2019, she was recognized as “Committed to Caring” (C2C) by graduate students. Over the last decade, she has served as an advocate and mentor for students, particularly in her role as the head of the Sidney Pacific Graduate Community.
Shah succeeds Professor Steven Barrett as the head of AeroAstro. Barrett has been the department head since May 2023. Shah has a comprehensive educational background in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and autonomous systems from MIT. After completing her PhD, she worked at Boeing as a postdoc before returning to MIT in 2011 as a faculty member.
