Julie Shah, the H.N. Slater Professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics, has been named the new head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT starting May 1. With an impressive record of technical contributions in AI and robotics, Shah has established herself as a visionary leader. Her work elucidates the social, ethical, and economic implications of AI and computing.
Shah’s previous roles at MIT include being an associate dean of Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing. Her efforts have notably influenced the curriculum, engaging more than 2,000 students annually. Currently, she is leading the Interactive Robotics Group and the Industrial Performance Center at MIT. The core of her team’s research is designing collaborative robots that enhance human capability, aiming to shape the future of work.
Shah’s advancements in translating human cognitive models to AI have found applicability across various fields including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and defense. She also co-authored the popular book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting Robots,” in 2020 that envisions a future of human-robot collaboration.
Furthering her commitment to shaping how robots and humans interact in workplaces, Shah has been appointed co-director of the Work of the Future Initiative at MIT and co-leader of the Working Group on Generative AI and the Work of the Future. This group aims to determine how generative AI tools could foster better job quality and inclusivity in tech access across sectors.
Shah’s accomplishments have garnered her accolades such as the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Academic Early Career Award, AIAA associate fellow and an NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award among others. She also features on MIT Technology Review’s TR35 List and was included on its list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies for her work on human-robot collaboration.
Recently, in 2024, Shah joined the inaugural AIAA Aerospace Artificial Intelligence Advisory Group. She serves in various editorial roles and as an executive council member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Besides her significant research contributions, Shah adopts a collaborative and supportive mentorship style. She received the “Committed to Caring” (C2C) award from graduate students in 2019. She also played a key role as community steward and mentor for students as head of the house of the Sidney Pacific Graduate Community.
Shah earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and autonomous systems at MIT. Post her doctorate, she was a postdoc at Boeing before rejoining MIT as a faculty member in 2011.
Shah succeeds Professor Steven Barrett as the new head of the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department, reflecting a change in the department’s leadership that has been under Barrett’s helm since May 2023.
