Todd Murphey Appointed to Air Force Scientific Advisory Board

Northwestern Engineering’s Todd Murphey has been appointed to the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), a federal advisory committee that offers independent advice on science and technology matters relating to the Air Force mission.

The SAB consists of approximately 50 members appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among the nation's leading experts in science, technology, engineering, and technical program leadership. Members are chosen across academia, national laboratories, industry, and federally funded research and development centers.

As an advisory board member, Murphey will support studies and technical reviews to help identify applications of technology that can improve current Air Force capabilities or enable entirely new capabilities. He will also provide counsel on the Air Force science and technology portfolio.

Murphey, a Charles Deering McCormick Professor in Teaching Excellence and professor of mechanical engineering, is an expert in robotic systems. His research focuses on computational methods in data-driven control, information theory in physical systems, and embodied intelligence. His past projects have included robotic exploration using electrosense, robotic exploration using mechanical contact, human-in-the-loop control, and shared control for rehabilitation/assistive devices. He is a member of Northwestern’s Neuroscience and Robotics Lab and also serves as director of the McCormick School of Engineering’s Master of Science in Robotics program.