SEAS Deputy Dean: Vijay Kumar
Dr. Vijay Kumar, a distinguished
member of the Engineering faculty, has been named to the newly-established
position of Deputy Dean of Engineering and Applied Science. Creating this
new office, Dean Eduardo Glandt said, places unencumbered attention on the
School's research agenda.
Dr. Kumar will oversee fostering research, promotion and support of the Engineering faculty's individual and collective efforts, stewardship of special opportunities and outreach to industrial partners and to foundations. Dean Glandt said, "I am just delighted that we have this respected scholar and teacher, with all the characteristics for outstanding leadership, as our new Deputy Dean, we look forward to our future with excitement."
Dr. Kumar was appointed to the Penn faculty in Mechanical Engineering, with secondaries in Computer and Information Science and in Systems Engineering, following receipt of his Ph.D. from Ohio State in 1987. He has received numerous awards--among them, early in his career, the prestigious NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award which recognized his potential as a major leader in defining the future of robotics research; and most recently, the Ferdinand Freudenstein Award for significant contributions to mechanisms and robotics. His distinguished teaching record has been recognized with award of the Lindback.
Dr. Kumar directs the General Robotics Automation Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Laboratory, an interdisciplinatory research group with faculty and students across computer and information science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering (SEAS), psychology (SAS), and radiology and neurology (SOM). His research interests lie in the areas of robotics, control, and biomechanics.
Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 25, March 21, 2000