Julie Shah, a highly decorated robotics and AI expert, has been appointed as the new head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro) at MIT, effective from May 1. Shah’s various accolades in the field, as well as her pioneering work in integrating AI into various sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and defense, make her aptly suited for this role. The appointment was announced by Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer, dean of the School of Engineering.
Shah’s multifaceted role at MIT includes her leadership at the Interactive Robotics Group and the Industrial Performance Centre. Her team’s core objective has been to envision the future of work through designing collaborative robot teammates that enhance human ability. Shah has utilized human cognitive models to extend the application of artificial intelligence and succeeded in applying her research to real-world settings. Furthermore, she is not just limited to the academic and research realm. She has authored a popular book, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting Robots,” reflecting on the future possibilities of human-robot collaboration.
Her expertise on the interplay between humans and robots in the workplace has resulted in her co-directing the Work of the Future Initiative and being named as a co-leader of the Working Group on Generative AI and the Work of the Future. Both projects explore how artificial intelligence technologies can contribute to more fulfilling jobs and inclusive access to cutting-edge technology across industries.
Shah’s excellence in her field has earned her numerous recognitions, such as being named an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2017 and receiving the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Academic Early Career Award in 2018. She also named a Bisplinghoff Faculty Fellow and was recognized among MIT Technology Review’s TR35 List. Furthermore, she was awarded an NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, and her work on human-robot collaboration secured a place on MIT Technology Review’s list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies.
In January 2024, Shah was appointed to the first-ever AIAA Aerospace Artificial Intelligence Advisory Group, aimed at promoting the appropriate use of AI technology in aeronautics, aerospace R&D, and space. Apart from being an influential researcher, she serves as editor-in-chief of Foundations and Trends in Robotics, an editorial board member of the AIAA Progress Series, and an executive council member of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
Shah is not only an industrious researcher but also an inspiring educator. She was awarded the “Committed to Caring” (C2C) acknowledgment in 2019 by her graduate students. For the past decade, she has been acting as a mentor, community steward, and advocate for students in her role as the head of the house of the Sidney Pacific Graduate Community.
Shah is an MIT alumna, having earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and autonomous systems, respectively. After her doctorate, she joined Boeing before returning to MIT as a faculty member. Shah is taking over the AeroAstro department from Professor Steven Barrett, who has been the department head since May 2023.
