Roberto Horowitz

Roberto Horowitz is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley and holds the James Fife Endowed Chair in Engineering. A leading figure in control theory and mechatronics, Horowitz conducts research in adaptive control, nonlinear and optimal control, learning-based control, and machine learning, with applications spanning robotics, MEMS, precision mechatronics, computer disk-drive systems, and intelligent vehicle/highway systems. He has played major leadership roles at Berkeley, serving as Chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department and Director of the California PATH Research Center, one of the pioneering institutions advancing intelligent transportation technologies. Horowitz’s contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the ASME DSCD Henry M. Paynter Outstanding Investigator Award and the ASME Rufus Oldenburger Medal for lifetime achievements in automatic control. He received his B.S. with highest honors and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, later joining the faculty in 1982. His work continues to bridge rigorous theoretical advances with impactful engineering applications, influencing modern robotics, transportation systems, and intelligent mechatronic design.