Maggie Wang

robotics, space exploration, photography, writing

About

I am an Aeronautics and Astronautics PhD student at Stanford University in the Multi-Robot Systems Lab with Prof. Mac Schwager. My research focuses on developing robust, adaptable robotic models for use in dynamic, data-scarce environments like environmental conservation and space exploration. My research includes developing algorithms for 3D perception, adaptive learning, and dynamic motion planning. I am grateful to be funded by the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) Fellowship.

Before beginning my PhD, I worked as an Autonomy Engineer at Skydio. I graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in Physics and S.M. in Computer Science. During my undergrad, I conducted research on robust pose estimation from 3D keypoints in the Robot Locomotion Lab at MIT with Prof. Russ Tedrake. My experience with robotics includes perception systems for robot manipulation, motion planning for satellites, embedded systems for smart home thermostats, and path planning for fixed-wing planes.

My mission is to use robotics and physics to learn more about our amazing universe and further our collective consciousness. I am passionate about applying an engineering mindset to a variety of fields—such as improving the environment to combat global warming, deploying autonomous robots for deep space exploration, developing brain-computer interfaces to unlock our intellectual potential, building smart cities that save energy and improve quality of life, and creating economic policies that reduce inequality. I care deeply about educational empowerment, and I hope to give back to my community by mentoring young people pursuing STEM fields.

In my free time, I love staying active with running and hiking, exploring art through painting, photography, and writing, and deepening my spiritual practices with yoga and meditation. I also help write, edit, and produce an aerospace newsletter called The Overview with some friends, where we publish articles, podcasts, and a biweekly newsletter for aspiring aerospace engineers.