My name is John Swensen, I'm a roboticist, engineer, and app developer. I am currently an Associate Research Scientist in the GRAB Lab at Yale University under the direction of Dr. Aaron M. Dollar, after having completed my PhD at Johns Hopkins University in December 2011 under the direction of Dr. Noah J. Cowan.
My broad research interests are in modeling, estimation, and control for robotic system, with a specific focus on medical robotics and continuum systems. In my dissertation I developed new dynamics models for estimation and control of steerable needles, which included the nonholonomic motion and torsion of the needle. After graduation, I joined a design-oriented lab for my postdoctoral research to complement my estimation and controls skill set with a foundation in robot design principles for continuum and compliant robotics systems. My experience as a postdoc and research scientist has shown me how collaborations between different styles of robotics research (e.g. applied controls and mechanical design) can result in achievements not capable without the collaboration.
As a graduate student, I was also able to gain experience as an educator through serving as a teaching assistant and through co-developing and co-teaching a two week winter session course on the Kalman filter. These experiences illustrated to me how rewarding it can be to teach, train, mentor, and inspire as an educator. I also believe that my time spent working in industry between undergraduate and graduate degrees has helped my to be aware of how to prepare students for industry or further academic pursuits equally well. As a postdoctoral associate I have continued my preparation by mentoring undergraduates and graduate students.
