[This article is re-posted from UMBC Insights]

Kavita Krishnaswamy ’07, computer science and mathematics, Ph. D. candidate, computer science and electrical engineering, was featured on the National Science Foundation website for her research on adaptive technology. Krishnaswamy’s work focuses on developing robotic prototypes that can assist people with severe disabilities and improving robotic interfaces.

kavitaIn the article, Krishnaswamy discusses how the support of research fellowships and mentors at UMBC has aided her research. She has won several competitive fellowships, receiving a Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship, an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, and a Ford Foundation Fellowship. “These fellowships are instrumental in facilitating my research career in many ways and making it possible for me to be one step closer to achieving my goals to assist people with disabilities. They enable me to focus on my research goals with greater determination to succeed,” she said.

Gisele Muller-Parker, program director of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, praised Krishnaswamy’s research and advocacy for individuals with disabilities, saying “[Kavita] is clearly passionate about helping others through the development of robotics research and is an inspiring leader in this area.”

Click here to read “Graduate student perseveres to increase access for persons with severe disabilities” on the National Science Foundation website.

Krishnaswamy was also recently interviewed by Technical.ly Baltimore about her experience using a telepresence devise and her vision for how robots can help people with disabilities. Click here to read “This UMBC Ph.D. candidate will change your mind about robots.”