President
Shubham Kumbhar is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, specializing in robotics, bipedal locomotion, and physical human-robot collaboration. His research focuses on developing optimization– and learning-based control strategies for humanoid robots, with an emphasis on enabling effective physical collaboration with humans. His ultimate goal is to create a complete intention-based control framework that enhances the quality and efficiency of humanoid–human interaction. Outside the lab, he enjoys the competitive spirit of ultimate frisbee and table tennis, the creativity of sketching anime characters, and the thrill of long-distance rides on his road bike.
Vice-President
Alejandra is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, conducting interdisciplinary research under the supervision of a professor in the Electrical and Computing Engineering Department. Her work lies at the intersection of signal processing, machine learning, and ocean acoustics. Focusing on Acoustical Oceanography and Modeling for underwater communication, she studies how acoustic signals interact with the sea surface to understand shadow zones in signal propagation. This research aims to advance underwater communications for marine robotics and defense applications. Beyond academics, Alejandra enjoys video games, board games, and reading, alongside more active pursuits like skating, bouldering, swimming, and volleyball. Her diverse interests reflect a balance of analytical and creative passions, making her a dynamic researcher and individual, committed to bringing together all areas and applications of robotics.
Treasurer
Saahil Regmi is a Mechanical Engineering PhD student studying the applications of Lie Groups and Lie algebras as it applies to estimation and control in robotics. He has a bachelors and masters in mathematics and hopes to utilize his skills to advance research and innovation in robotics and engineering overall. Outside of academics you can find him in the gym lifting weights or at Latin Dance Socials enjoying some Salsa Dancing.
Secretary
Michalis Chatzispyrou is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Underwater Robotics. His research focuses on the integration of computer vision and control systems to enhance the capabilities of underwater robots. A key focus of his research is the development of a generalized dynamic controller that allows robots to adapt to varying underwater conditions, including currents and storms. In addition to his academic work, Michalis is a passionate scuba diver, regularly testing his robots in the field. He is currently training to become a cave diver and plans in the future to become a certified skipper.
Social Media Coordinator
Dongchen Qi is currently a Mechanical Engineering PhD student studying AI-assisted physical reasoning, affordance reasoning, and large function models in robotics. He is currently working on leveraging AI in robot commonsense reasoning and planning. He is also interested in generating robot training trajectories within physics-based models.
Social Media Coordinator
Karthik Mohan is a final-year Master of Science student in Robotics, specializing in mobile robots and artificial intelligence. His current research explores the development of AI-powered companion system intelligent mobile robots capable of perceiving their environment, engaging in meaningful interactions, and adapting to user behavior over time. He is particularly interested in integrating computer vision, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning to create socially aware and context-sensitive robotic companions. Outside of his academic pursuits, Karthik enjoys playing cricket and chess, as well as watching movies and anime.
Event Coordinator
Shubham Shah is a Master’s student in Robotics at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, specializing in GPS-denied swarm localization and motion planning for UAVs. With 3 years of experience in drone navigation and control systems, he’s passionate about solving real-world autonomy challenges, from coordinating UAV swarms in challenging environments to developing localization systems for industrial forklifts. Portfolio: www.bytebyte.dev. His research focuses on enabling drones to navigate and collaborate without GPS, opening doors for applications in search-and-rescue and underground exploration. When he’s not debugging code or testing algorithms, you’ll find Shubham exploring new trails, swimming, or planning his next travel adventure.