Melisa Orta Martinez

Melisa Orta Martinez is an Assistant Professor in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, where she leads the Social Haptics Robotics and Education (SHRED) Lab. Her research sits at the intersection of robotics, haptics, human-computer interaction, and STEM education. Orta Martinez focuses on designing low-cost, open-source robotic and haptic technologies that broaden accessibility to hands-on learning experiences while advancing our understanding of touch-based interaction. Her work examines how tactile feedback, kinesthetic devices, and multimodal sensing can support communication, creativity, and conceptual learning. In parallel, she investigates new mechanisms for human-machine interaction that integrate haptics with pedagogical tools, empowering learners—including visually impaired students—to engage meaningfully with engineering and computational concepts. Her research has been featured in leading venues such as ICRA, WHC, and UIST, and she has contributed significantly to open-source haptics initiatives originating from Stanford. Her lab welcomes students interested in haptic interfaces, education-focused robotics, and inclusive learning technologies.