Lab Director: Hermano Igo Krebs
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Andrés Martínez-Guerra
Dr. Andrés Martínez was a postdoctoral associate at MIT's The 77 Lab (2019-2020) and he is currently with Noah Medical. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, as well as the B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University. His doctoral research focused on design of controllers for lower-limb exoskeletons for individuals with ambulatory disabilities. His research interests include robotic design and control, specifically focusing on assistive and rehabilitation devices to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.
Konstantinos Michmizos
Konstantinos Michmizos is an Associate Professor in Computer Science at Rutgers University, where he directs the Computational Brain (ComBra) Lab, with the goal to harness and nurture intelligence, by replicating it to serve people’s life or targeting it to assist people’s recovery. His Lab couples computational neuroscience, artificial intelligence and robotics, to develop robots that emulate brain function or interact with brain dysfunction, identifying new therapeutic connections between the micro (cellular) and the macro (behavioral) scales. He has received graduate and post-graduate training in BME, ECE, MechE and a medical department, at MIT, Harvard Medical School, McGill University and the National Technical University of Athens. At Rutgers, Konstantinos serves at the Executive Council for the Center for Cognitive Science and he is a Faculty member of the Brain Health Institute and the Center for Computational Biomedicine Imaging and Modeling. In 2019, his research has received awards from Intel, the NIH K12 mechanism as well as the Rutgers Brain Health Institute and the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation.
Dante Edward Montgomery
Dante was a graduate student in MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations Program where he got an SM in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. He is currently at Danaher. Dante completed his master’s thesis in industry with Ascent Aerospace who is a manufacturing solutions provider to the commercial aircraft, military aircraft, and spacecraft industries. Dante’s research focused on leveraging data analysis and manufacturing modeling to streamline estimating and quote development. This project was co-advised by Hermano Igo Krebs and Roy Welsch (MIT Sloan School of Management). Prior to MIT, Dante completed his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech and spent five years working on infrastructure projects in the upstream oil and gas industry.
Caio Benatti Moretti
Caio was a Visiting Student at The 77 Lab, where he conducted research that led to his PhD in Computer Science at University of Sao Paulo (ICMC-USP). He was working on biomarkers to assess stroke recovery, extracting recovery patterns from rehabilitation robotics data repositories. Interested in Data Mining, Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD), Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Statistical Learning Theory and Rehabilitation Robotics with Serious Games. He is currently working for Raizen as a data scientist. 
Kazuo Nishimoto
Kazuo Nishimoto was a Visiting Professor at the 77 Lab (2019-2020). He graduated in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of São Paulo (1979), MSc in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering-Yokohama National University (1982) and PhD in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from the University of Tokyo (1985). He is currently a full professor at the University of São Paulo. The specialization was in the field of Dynamics of Ocean Systems, with emphasis on hydrodynamics and integrated design of ships and ocean systems, but mostly he is working in the integration of several knowledge of engineering and basic sciences to have technology innovations as the director of NUMERICAL OFFSHORE TANK, mainly in the following themes: numerical & physical simulation of dynamics of ships & ocean systems, development of new ocean systems for oil&gas industry, particle method (MPS) for fluid dynamics & development of offshore Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Satoshi Nishimura
Dr. Satoshi Nishimura was a postdoctoral associate at The 77 Lab (2019-2020). He received a B.E. degree in system design engineering, and an M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in integrated design engineering from Keio University, Yokohama, Japan, in 2013, 2014, and 2017, respectively. He was a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) from 2016 to 2018. From 2018, he started his own business to support and accelerate R&D of a packaging machine company, whose projects are related to a motion control technique. He majors in control engineering, and his research focuses on realizing high-transparent teleoperation through network considering the connectivity of remote systems. He is currently with 3M Japan.
Takahiro Nozaki
Dr. Takahiro Nozaki was a visiting Professor at the 77 Lab (2019-2020). He received the B.E. degree in system design engineering and the M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in integrated design engineering from Keio University,Yokohama, Japan, in 2010, 2012, and 2014, respectively. He was with Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan, from 2014 to 2015 as a Research Associate. He is currently with Keio University, Yokohama, Japan, as an Assistant Professor, and also with the Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Kawasaki, Japan, as a Researcher.
Ciaran O'Neill
He is a Post-Doctoral Associate at The 77 Lab. He received his B.E. and M.E. in mechanical and manufacturing engineering from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, in 2013 and 2014 respectively. He subsequently received a PhD at Harvard University in 2021, working on the development of soft wearable robots for upper limb rehabilitation and assistance.
Juan Carlos Perez
Dr. Juan Carlos Pérez got his Ph.D. in 2019 at the University of Sao Paulo, Mechanical Engineering Department, Brazil. His research interest is in rehabilitation robotics and he spent 1-year at MIT as a Visiting Student - part of his graduate studies. He is currently a postdoctoral associate at UC Irvine.
Michael Schoder
Mike was a graduate student in MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations Program where he got an SM in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. Mike is interested in autonomy and robotics, particularly in applications for transportation and industrial automation. Mike conducted his research thesis at Amazon, co-advised by Hermano Igo Krebs and Stephen Graves (MIT Sloan). Mike was also a member of the MIT Driverless racecar team, where he served as a vehicle controls engineer. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University in 2010. Prior to joining MIT, Mike served for eight years as a Special Operations Team Commander in the US Marine Corps, and then worked as a data scientist and infrastructure engineer at a growing enterprise software company. He is currently at Applied Intuition.
Tyler Susko
Dr. Tyler Susko is a Professor of Teaching and Researcher at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). He completed his PhD under Dr. Krebs at MIT, during which he designed, developed and tested the MIT Skywalker Gamma prototype. His expertise lies in the design of mechanical devices for people with disabilities and he currently oversees the engineering capstone program at UCSB, which affords him the opportunity to explore novel devices for individuals with unique impairments. One recent project has been to miniaturize the technological learning from the Skywalker into a simple passive shoe, which transitioned from a capstone project to published research. In another capstone project, his students designed a custom robotic walker to allow a neurologically impaired teenager to walk independently for the first time. Current and future interests involve novel robotic machines to provide therapy for neurologically impaired infants.
Dan Suzuki
Dan Suzuki is a Visiting Scientist at MIT. He received the B.E. and M.E. in mechanical engineering from The University of Tokyo, in 2020 and 2022, respectively. From 2022 to 2023, he worked for Sumitomo Construction Machinery co., Ltd. and since 2023, he has been working for Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., as a research engineer of excavators.
Peijun Zhao
Dr. Peijun Zhao is a Postdoctoral Associate at The 77 Lab. Before joining MIT, he worked as an Applied Scientist at Amazon. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from University of Oxford in 2022 and B.E. in Computer Science degree from Tsinghua University in 2017. His research interests include robotics, human-centered and ubiquitous computing, machine learning and computer vision.
Moises Alencastre-Miranda
Dr. Moises Alencastre-Miranda has been a Research Scientist at MIT since September 2017. He received a Ph.D. and a M.Sc. degrees in Computer Science from the Monterrey Institute of Technology, Mexico in 2007 and 2003 respectively. His research focus is on the development of efficient computer vision techniques for robotics using GPU. His Ph.D. thesis about mobile robotics and computer vision in natural outdoor environments won an award as the best Ph.D. thesis in Computer Science in Mexico in 2008. From 2012 to 2017, he was an Associate Professor at Monterrey Institute of Technology, Santa Fe Campus, in Mexico City, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses on robotics, computer graphics and computer science from 2006 to 2017. There, he was the head of the research group in mobile robotics and computer graphics from 2012 to 2014, where he also won the 3rd national place of Romulo Garza Prize in Research in Science, Technology and Engineering in 2012.
Roberto Bolli
Roberto was an undergraduate student studying mechanical engineering and biology at MIT. His interests include robotics, human-machine interaction, and the intersection of engineering and experimental biology. He is currently pursuing his graduate studies at MIT.
Joao Buzzatto
Dr. Joao Buzzatto received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil and his Ph.D. in Mechatronics Engineering from The University of Auckland in New Zealand. He is interested in improving the versatility and adaptability of robotic systems by designing, modeling, and controlling novel robot concepts and interfaces, as well as developing new sensing and actuation methods. In his Ph.D., he combined Aerial Robotics, Soft Robotics, and Robotic Manipulation to develop an ultra-versatile, soft aerial manipulator platform.
Ronnapee Chaichaowarat
Ronnapee Chaichaowarat joined the International School of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, as a lecturer of the Robotics and AI program. He was a postdoctoral associate at MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (2019-2020). He received the first Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2015. Granted the Japanese government scholarship, he received the second Ph.D. degree in bioengineering and robotics from Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, in 2018. His research interests include the areas of compliant actuation, passive exoskeleton, and vehicle dynamics.
Rui Coelho
Rui is an Electronic Engineer and got his Ph.D. in 2021 at Instituto Superior Técnico - Universidade de Lisboa. Lisboa, Portugal. His research interest is in rehabilitation robotics and he spent 1-year at MIT with Dr. Krebs as part of his graduate studies developing a novel wearable FES system to measure ankle mechanical impedance.
Joseph Ryan Davidson
Prof. Joseph Ryan Davidson is an Assistant Professor at Oregon State University and he received a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2004. After completing five years of military service with two tours of duty in Iraq, he worked as a project manager for CH2M HILL Inc. at a nuclear facility in Hanford, Washington from 2009 to 2012. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University in 2013 and 2016, respectively, developing a robotic arm for apple harvesting. He was a postdoctoral research associate at MIT between September 2016 and 2018 focusing on mechatronics, smart materials, and agricultural robotics.
Stan Durand
Stan Durand got his PhD in 2020 at the Institut de Biomécanique Humaine Georges Charpak - Ecole National Supérieure des Arts et Métiers ParisTech. His research is in wrist biomechanics and surgical reconstruction. He spent 1-year at MIT with Dr. Krebs as part of his Masters and an additional year as part of his PhD under the sponsorship of the Fulbright Program.
Ricardo Godoy
Ricardo V. Godoy received his B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2019 and 2021, respectively, and his Ph.D. in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in 2024. In his Ph.D., he worked on the analysis and development of novel Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) for the control of robotic and bionic devices while focusing on the challenges and limitations in the use of HMI for robust grasping and decoding of dexterous, in-hand manipulation tasks. He is interested in developing novel and robust machine learning and computer vision-based solutions for robotics and rehabilitation.
Benjamin Gutierrez
Ben completed his undergraduates studies at MIT in 2020. He enjoys the study of computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering as most technology seems to have some combination of these three disciplines. Things he likes to do include eating, sleeping, working on projects, and spending time with his best friend in life. His favorite movie is Babe, favorite book series is Hank the Cowdog, and favorite food is sushi. Some goals he has in the future include starting a company, living on a farm, and getting a pilot's license. Starting late 2019 he is living on a 40 year old boat so he has a lot to learn about boating.
Stephen Leonard Green
Dr Stephen Green was a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School who operated in the anaesthesiology department of Boston’s Children Hospital working with Mathematical Modelling and Functional Near-Infra Red Spectroscopy (fNIRS) divisions. He received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Leicester before completing a Master of Mathematics (MMath) there focusing on Cryptography and Cryptanalysis. He followed this with a mathematics PhD discussing methods for large-scale data analysis & machine learning for intelligent image processing. He is now a postdoctoral research associate at the MIT’s 77 Lab with research interests including artificial intelligence, deep learning, and innovation in neural networks.
Ethan Logan Greene
Logan is a graduate student of MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations Program where he is pursuing a SM in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. Logan is interested in autonomy and artificial intelligence— specifically in industrial applications. Logan is conducting his research thesis at Ascent Aerospace— a portfolio company of American Industrial Partners. Logan’s thesis is co-advised by Hermano Igo Krebs and John F. Carrier (MIT Sloan). Logan earned his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2021. Prior to joining MIT, Logan served over nine years in Naval Special Operations as a Navy Diver and a Navy Explosive Ordnance Technician. He also worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as an optical-mechanical design engineer and a systems engineer.
Ana Haddad
Ana is a graduate student of MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations Program where she is pursuing an MS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. Ana is interested in manufacturing and operational excellence. She is conducting her thesis research at Sanofi. Ana’s thesis is co-advised by Hermano Igo Krebs and Sean Willems (MIT Sloan). Ana earned her BS in Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware in 2018. Prior to joining the LGO program, Ana was a liaison engineer at Boeing working to support 737 production.
Denton Xiang He
Denton was a graduate student in MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations Program where he got an SM in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. He is now at Amazon. Denton is interested in the use of robotic manipulation for a wide range of industrial problems. In particular, the development of grippers, past, present and into the future. Denton conducted his research thesis at Boston Scientific, co-advised by Hermano Igo Krebs and Jonas Jonasson (MIT Sloan). Whilst undergoing his undergraduate education at the University of Melbourne (obtaining a Mechatronics/Computer Science dual degree), Denton spent a year at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. After which he spent a number of years in the pharmaceutical industry before joining the MIT Leaders for Global Operations program in 2018.
Jiangpeng He
Dr. Jiangpeng He is a Postdoctoral Associate at The 77 Lab at MIT. Prior to joining MIT, he held a position as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Purdue University, Video and Image Processing Laboratory (VIPER), where he also obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2022. He earned his B.S. degree in Electronic and Information Engineering from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in 2017. In the same year he also obtained the first-class honor B.ENG. degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Glasgow. His research interests lie at the intersection of computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, robotics, and healthcare. He has a strong background in both academic research and practical applications where his work focuses on developing innovative solutions to complex problems in these fields.
Hiroaki Hirai
Dr. Hiroaki Hirai is an Associate Professor at Osaka University, Japan. He received his B.E., M.E., and Ph. D degrees in Mechanical Engineering all from Osaka University in 1997, 1999, and 2004, respectively. He worked at Yamaha Corporation as an engineer for electronic musical instruments. He was a Visiting Researcher at MIT at The 77 Lab. His current research interests involve human motor control and human enhancement, in particular: for athletes, children, and patients.
Takashi Hoshino
He is a Visiting Researcher at MIT. He received the B.E., M.E. degrees in mechanical engineering from University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, in 2014 and 2016, respectively. From 2016 to 2020, he worked for Sumitomo Construction Machinery co., Ltd. and since 2020, he has worked for Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. as a research engineer in excavators.
Hiroaki Ishida
Dr. Hiroaki Ishida is a Visiting Researcher at The 77 Lab. He received the B.E., M.E., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan, in 2010, 2012 and 2016, respectively. Since 2016, he has worked for Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. as a research engineer in mechanical design and control for robots and gear reducers.
Solmon Jeong
Dr. Solmon Jeong is a Visiting Researcher at The 77 lab. He received the M.E., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan, in 2019 and 2022. Since 2022, he has been working for Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. as a research engineer in the design of operating system for construction machinery. His interests include robotics, human-machine interaction, and teleoperation.
Our People in alphabetical order.