Nikolai Matni, assistant professor in electrical and systems engineering, is one of Penn Engineering’s most recent recipients of the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award. The CAREER Award is given to early-career faculty researchers who demonstrate the potential to be role models for research and education and are committed to outreach and public engagement.

Dr. Matni’s work sits at the intersection of two branches of applied mathematics, control theory and machine learning, and focuses on the theoretical side of artificial intelligence.
“My work attempts to combine the strengths of control theory and machine learning,” said Dr. Matni. “An example of a traditional control system is cruise control in a car. This simple algorithm operates based on a feedback principle, measuring the difference between the current and desired speed of the car and accelerating or slowing down based on this difference. This feedback allows cruise control to operate well across a broad range of road conditions, accounting for some amount of uncertainty in the environment.”

Dr. Matni plans to use funds from the CAREER Award to develop specific courses for undergraduate and graduate students at Penn. These courses will take the many disciplines of this emerging field and translate them into a common language and perspective that will aid in the development of a new and interdisciplinary research field. In addition to increased student engagement, Dr. Matni plans to bring his research to the public, a customary initiative of CAREER Award winners and a mission that sets the CAREER Award apart from other research grants.