January 27, 2017
Jingyi "Ann" Chen
Assistant Professor
Jingyi "Ann" Chen's research interests focus on the analysis of the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and hydrosphere using high-resolution crustal deformation measurements derived from spaceborne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). Her radar interferometry lab aims to explore to what extent the advances in InSAR technology can lead to cutting-edge scientific discoveries and inform social decisions at all levels concerning resource and environmental management.
Prior to joining UT, Chen was a postdoctoral fellow at the environmental geophysics group at Stanford University for two and half years, where she demonstrated the use of spaceborne remote sensing data for evaluation and management of our groundwater resources in agricultural regions.
Chen holds a doctorate in geophysics from Stanford University and a M.S. in electrical engineering, also from Stanford. She received her B.S. in space physics from the University of Science and Technology of China.
Manuel Rausch
Assistant Professor
Manuel Rausch's research interests focus on soft tissue biomechanics. He uses experimental as well as computational tools to characterize and understand the mechanical behavior of biological soft tissues such as myocardium, vascular soft tissue, heart valve tissue, and skin to improve diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and medical device design.
Before he joined UT, Rausch was a post-doctoral fellow at Yale University. He also has two years of industry experience as the Director of R&D for a medical device start-up.
Rausch earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. He also holds a Dipl. Ing. in mechanical engineering from the University of Stuttgart, Germany.
Luis Sentis
Associate Professor
Luis Sentis' research focuses on realtime optimal control of human-centered robotics, including the design of high performance humanoid robots and exoskeleton systems, safety assured human-robot interaction, and cognitive modeling and intervention of learner behavior.
Before joining the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Sentis was a faculty member of the Mechanical Engineering Department at UT Austin. He is also the director of the Human Centered Robotics Laboratory in Austin, where his group focuses on control and embodiment of humanoid robots.
Sentis was the UT Austin's Lead for DARPA's Robotics Challenge with NASA Johnson Space Center where he helped to design and test the Valkyrie humanoid robot. He was awarded the NASA Elite Team Award for his contributions to NASA’s Johnson Space Center Software Robotics and Simulation Division.
Renato Zanetti
Assistant Professor
Renato Zanetti's research focuses on the estimation of complex dynamical systems and autonomous onboard navigation, which includes on-board image processing and optical navigation, non-linear estimation of non-Gaussian/non-linear systems, sensor fault detection and utilization strategy, and autonomous spacecraft GN&C.
Prior to joining UT, Zanetti worked at the C.S. Draper Laboratory and at the NASA Johnson Space Center for more than nine years, where he contributed to the successful design and flight of numerous autonomous space navigation systems.
Zanetti earned his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He also holds a Laurea in aerospace engineering from Politecnico di Milano.
