Julie Shah ’04, SM ’06, PhD ’11, the HN Slater Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is the novel head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro), effective May 1.
“Julie brings an exceptional track record of visionary and interdisciplinary leadership to this role. It has made significant technical contributions to the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence, particularly as it relates to the future of work, and has filled significant gaps in the social, ethical, and economic implications of artificial intelligence and computing,” says Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s director of innovation and strategy, dean Faculty of Engineering and Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
In addition to her role as a faculty member at AeroAstro, Shah served as associate dean for the social and ethical responsibilities of computer science at the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing from 2019 to 2022, helping launch a coordinated curriculum that serves more than 2,000 students annually at the institute. He currently leads the Interactive Robotics Group at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the MIT Center for Industrial Productivity.
Shah and her team at the Interactive Robotics Group conduct research that aims to imagine the future of work by designing collaborative robots that enhance human capabilities. It is expanding the operate of human cognitive models for artificial intelligence and has translated its work into production lines, healthcare, transportation and defense applications. In 2020, Shah co-authored the popular book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting Robots,” which explores the future of human-robot collaboration.
An expert in human-robot interactions in the labor market, Shah was named co-director of the Work of the Future Initiative, a successor group to MIT’s Future Work Task Force, alongside Ben Armstrong, executive director and research scientist at MIT’s Industrial Performance Center. In March of this year, Shah was named co-chair of the Working Group on Generative AI and the Future of Work, alongside Armstrong and Kate Kellogg, the David J. McGrath Jr. Professor of Management and Innovation. The group is exploring how generative AI tools can contribute to the creation of higher quality jobs and inclusive access to the latest technologies across all sectors.
Shah’s contributions as a researcher and educator have been recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 2017, she became an Associate Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and in 2018, she was the recipient of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Early Career Academic Award. Shah was also named a Bisplinghoff Faculty Fellow, named to the TR35 list, and received an NSF Career Development Faculty Award. In 2013, her work on human-robot cooperation was included in the list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies.
In January 2024, she was appointed to the first-ever AIAA Aerospace Artificial Intelligence Group, which was established “to support the appropriate use of artificial intelligence technologies, particularly in aeronautics, aerospace research and development.” Shah currently serves as editor-in-chief, a member of the editorial board of the AIAA Progress series, and a member of the executive board of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
Shah, a dedicated educator, was recognized for her collaborative and supportive approach as a mentor. In 2019, she was honored by graduates with the title of “Committed to Caring” (C2C). For the past 10 years, she has served as an advocate, community steward, and student mentor through her role as House Manager of the Sidney Pacific Graduate Community.
Shah earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering and a doctorate in autonomous systems from MIT. After earning her Ph.D., she joined Boeing as a postdoctoral fellow before returning to MIT in 2011 as a research associate.
Shah succeeds Professor Steven Barrett, who has led AeroAstro since May 2023 as both interim head of department and then head of department.