Jessica Burgner-Kahrs

Professor Jessica Burgner-Kahrs is a Professor at the University of Toronto with joint appointments in Mathematical & Computational Sciences, Computer Science, and Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. She is the founding Director of the Continuum Robotics Laboratory and Associate Director of the Robotics Institute. Her research focuses on continuum robotics, with particular emphasis on the design, modeling, planning, and control of flexible robotic systems, as well as human–robot interaction. Her fundamental robotics research is strongly motivated by real-world applications, especially in minimally invasive surgery and robotic systems for maintenance, repair, and operations. Prior to joining the University of Toronto, she was an Associate Professor at Leibniz University Hannover, Germany, and a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University, USA. Her work has been widely recognized through numerous prestigious awards and honors, and she is actively engaged in international leadership roles within the robotics community, including as a Senior Member of IEEE, a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Robotics & Automation Society, and a Senior Editor of IEEE Robotics & Automation Letters.