
Prof. Kira Barton
Prof. Kira Barton (bartonkl@umich.edu) received her B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2001. Barton continued her education in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in 2006 and 2010, respectively. She held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Illinois from Fall 2010 until Fall 2011, at which point she joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Her primary research focus is on precision coordination and motion control for emerging applications, with a specialization in iterative learning control. Barton’s work intersects controls and manufacturing and combines innovative manufacturing processes with enhanced engineering capabilities. The potential impact of this research ranges from building high-resolution DNA sensors for biological applications to the integration of advanced sensing and control for rehabilitation robotics.
Postdoctoral Scholars

Nazanin Farjam (nfarjam@umich.edu)
Ph.D., Mech. Eng., University of Michigan
MS, Mech. Eng., University of Toledo
Research Interests: Process Modeling and Control, Learning-based Control, Additive Manufacturing, Printed Electronics, E-jet Printing (EHD)
Ph.D. Students

Bo Fu (bofu@umich.edu)
MS, Mech. Eng., Carnegie Mellon University
BS, Vehicle Eng., Tongji University
Research Interests: Multi-robot task planning, planning under uncertainty, machine learning, localization, mapping
Research Title: A Learning and Planning Framework for Robust Task Allocation for Heterogeneous Robot Teams

Tyler Toner (twtoner@umich.edu)
BS, Mech. Eng., Auburn University
Research Interests: Data-driven robot skill learning; learning-based control for manipulators, heterogeneous robot teaming; smart manufacturing
Research Title: Learning Robot Skills from Data for Rapid Adaptation to Dynamic and Uncertain Industrial Environments

Abigail Rafter (arafter@umich.edu)
BS, Mech. Eng., Carnegie Mellon University
Research Interests: Controls, Smart Manufacturing, Digital Twins, Mechatronics
Research Title: Human Digital Twins for Human-Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing

Joseph Wilson (wilsoniv@umich.edu)
MS, Robotics, University of Michigan
BS, Computer Engineering, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Research Interests: Learning, Localization and Mapping

Paola Rioja (prioja@umich.edu)
BS, Mech. Eng., University of Michigan
Research Interests: Wearable Sensors, Controls, Mechatronics, Human Motion, Biomechanics

Ali Bahrami (bahrami@umich.edu)
MS, Mech. Eng., University of Tehran
Research Interests: E-Jet (EHD) Printing, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modeling and Simulation, Additive Manufacturing, Control Theory

Angelo Hawa (ahawa@umich.edu)
Research Interests: E-jet printing, modeling and simulation, additive manufacturing, system identification, and digital twins
Research Title: Data-based models of material properties, process parameters, and droplet characteristics using electrohydrodynamic jet printing

Keith Ng (keithng@umich.edu)
MS, Mech. Eng., Georgia Institute of Technology
BS, Systems Eng., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Interests: Industrial robotics, robotic manufacturing and machining, controls, sensing, mechatronic and embedded systems

Kaifan Yue (kaifany@umich.edu)
MS, Robotics, University of Michigan Ann Arbor
BS, Mech. Eng., University of California San Diego
Research Interests: Additive manufacturing, E-Jet Printing, Printed electronics, Manufacturing automation
Research Title: Manufacturing Autonomy: Process Model Development towards the Directed Evolution of Submicron Printed Lines Using Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing

Patrick Linford (plinford@umich.edu)
MS, Mech. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
BS, Mech Eng., The United States Military Academy at West Point
Research Interests: Battery state and control, multi-robot task planning, planning under uncertainty
Research Title: Controls for Shape-changing Solid State Batteries
Masters

Kavan Shah (kvnshah@umich.edu)
BS, Mech. Eng., Penn State University
Research Interests: Smart Manufacturing, Digital Twins, Manipulation, Motion Planning, Controls, Mechatronics
Project Description: Present a requirements framework to realize complete virtual commissioning. Virtual commissioning is the process of verification and/or validation of a manufacturing system’s process design and controls design, by using simulation technology and digital twins to confirm if the simulated or emulated performance metrics meet manufacturer requirements.

Leo Bringer (lbringer@umich.edu)
BS, Mech. Eng., Arts et Métiers, Paris, France
Research Interests: 3D Vision, Deep Learning for Robot Perception, Human-Robot Interaction, Mechatronics
Research Title: Neural Network-based Method for Human Intent Prediction in Dynamic Human-Robot Collaboration

Marcus Badgett (marcbad@umich.edu)
BS, Mech. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research Interests: Predictive Maintenance, Smart Manufacturing, Data Science
Research Title: Domain Invariant Health Indicators for Predictive Maintenance of Manufacturing Equipment
Hongrui Liu (hongruil@umich.edu)
Michael Hall (hallmr@umich.edu)
Siddharth Bhurat (sbhurat@umich.edu)
Aarish Shah (aarishs@umich.edu)
Tong Chen (boatchen@umich.edu)
Visiting Scholars
Undergraduate Students
Nolan Theeke-Gallego (ntheekeg@umich.edu)
Alumni
Postdoctoral Researchers:
Joaquin Gabaldon, 2022
Laxmi Prasad Poudel, 2022, General Electric
Ding Zhang, 2022, Pony.ai
Noopur Jamnikar, 2022, General Electric
Leo Tse, 2022 Abiomed
Yassine Qamsane, 2021, Siemens
Felipe Lopez, Schlumberger Limited Industrial Internet Center (SLIIC)
Patrick Sammons, Analyst
Mamadou Diagne, Assist. Prof. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
PhD Students:
Loubna Baroudi, 2023
Max Toothman, 2023
Max Wu, 2023
Mingjie Bi, 2023, Hitachi Ltd.
Nazanin Farjam, 2023
Dory Yang, 2023
Yaqing Xu, 2022, General Motors
Zahra Afkhami, 2022, Lucid Motors
Joaquin Gabaldon, 2021, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Michigan
Ding Zhang, 2021, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Michigan
Isaac Spiegel, 2021, Guidance Navigation and Control Engineer at Terran Orbital
Efe Balta, 2021, Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zürich
Ilya Kovalenko, 2020, Assistant Professor at the Pennsylvania State University
Deema Totah, 2020, Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa
Changbai Tan, 2020, General Motors
Michael Quann, 2019
Christopher Pannier, 2019, Assistant Professor at University of Michigan Dearborn
Miguel Saez, 2018, General Motors
Leo Tse, 2017, Postdoctoral researcher at University of Michigan
Berk Altin, 2016, Postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz
Ingyu Lim, 2016, Ford Motor Company
Visiting Scholars:
Matthijs van de Vosse, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Nederlands
Birte Caesar, Institute of Automation Technology, Helmut-Schmidt-University, Hamburg, Germany
Tom Van de Laar, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Nederlands
Enric Xargay
Robin Riethmueller, University of Stuttgart Institute for Nonlinear Mechanics, Germany
Max Raff, University of Stuttgart Institute for Nonlinear Mechanics, Germany
Leontine Aarnoudse, Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Roel Vromans, Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Remy Pelzer, Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Yuan-yuan Liu, Shanghai University, China
Xiaomei Hu, 2015, Shanghai University, China
Mauro Mazzolini, 2014, Synesis
Diego Manzocchi, 2014, Synesis
Master’s Students:
Rohit Damodar
Jonathan Sim
Jiayun Ni
Wan Kei Eric Kam
Michelle Ji
Shreya Phirke
Xenia Demenchuk
Farhan Javed
Paola Rioja, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Sam Worsham
Ruijie Geng
Xiang Gao
Allison White
Harrison Chen, Jugaad Labs
Mu-Ti Chung
Eric Huang
Mingjie Bi, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Loubna Baroudi, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Nolan Payne
Doruk Aksoy, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Mattison Rose
Katelyn Angeliu
Rongyu Liang, pursuing M.S at University of Michigan
Akshay Garg, pursuing M.S at University of Michigan
Kshitij Jain, pursuing M.S at University of Michigan
Lauren Ransohoff, Northrop Grumman
Chiranjeevi Vegi, M.S, University of Michigan
Devyani Kalvit, 2017 M.S. University of Michigan
Matthew Porter, 2016, pursuing PhD at University of Michigan
Yunli Shao, 2015, pursuing PhD at University of Minnesota
Tong Li, 2015, pursuing PhD at University of Michigan
Dan Zhao, 2015, pursuing PhD at University of Michigan
Sayooj Pillai, 2014, Cummins, Inc.
Siva Aduri, 2014, MS University of Michigan
Bokai Chen, 2014, M.S University of Michigan
Yi-Kai Wang, 2013, M.S. University of Michigan
Chengeng Qu, 2013, Finance Masters Program
William Grenis, 2013, UM Masters Program
Danvir Sethi, 2013, Mathworks
Astha Kukreja, 2013, Cummins, Inc.
Bert Jiang, 2012, Mathworks
Jaekyu Hyun, 2012, Hyundai
Undergraduate Students:
Ritika Sibal
Benjamin Getz
Steven Lengieza
Gary Zheng
Sharon Sun (UROP)
Vanessa Sheldon (UROP)
Ethan McMillan
Adam Lassman
Nick Tavis
Annika Stoldt Meghna Menon
Anne Gu (UROP, ME490)
Dan Xu(ME490)
Ryan Tepper(ME390)
Tom Brown(ME390)
David Robinson (UROP)
Alex Nettekoven (International UROP)
Tanay Nerurkar (ME490)Eliana Almario (SROP)
Ben Getz (UROP-MSTEM)
Michael Dobrowolski (UROP)
Ravesh Sukhnandan (SURE)
Michael Mahon (UROP)
Audrey Ramey (NNIN REU)
Syfith Jeet Singh
Nattasit (North) Dancholvichit
Andrew O’Hara (UROP)
Chien-An (Anne) Yu (UROP)