Ruzena Bajcsy

Ruzena Bajcsy is the NEC Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley and a pioneering figure whose work has shaped robotics, machine perception, human-centered computing, and cognitive science for more than five decades. She was the founding director of CITRIS, a four-campus interdisciplinary institute dedicated to advancing information technology for societal benefit, and played a key role in establishing early programs that bridged digital technologies with the humanities. Bajcsy’s current research focuses on the use of robotic technologies to noninvasively measure and model the kinematic and dynamic parameters of human movement. Her group develops methods to assess motor capabilities and limitations and designs assistive robotic devices to augment mobility, strength, and physical function. Bajcsy is a member of both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine, and a fellow of ACM and AAAI. Her numerous honors include the ACM/AAAI Allen Newell Award, the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Computer and Cognitive Sciences, and the IEEE Robotics and Automation Award. Her work continues to influence fields ranging from artificial vision and machine perception to medical imaging and human-robot interaction.