Cornell Tech and Cornell Engineering are preparing to leverage and capitalize on their complementary strengths in unprecedented ways, their respective deans announced Wednesday. They revealed that Silvia Ferrari, John Brancaccio Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, will be the first Associate Dean for Cross-Campus Engineering Research.
Reporting to the Deans of Cornell Engineering and Cornell Tech, this newly created role is designed to develop impactful initiatives and cross-campus research partnerships leading to research centers of excellence spanning the Ithaca and New York campuses, as well as the Technion.
“We are thrilled to have Silvia stepping into this much-needed leadership role, which will catalyze a number of impactful projects and elevate the work we do at Cornell,” said Greg Morrissett, Jack and Rilla Neafsey Dean and Vice Provost at Cornell Tech. “It’s a great example of a ‘One Cornell’ mindset in action.”
The new associate dean’s program is expected to focus on big ideas in priority research areas, such as autonomy, robotics, urban technology and neuroscience. These are areas in which Ferrari has already demonstrated intellectual leadership and its ability to organize successful multi-researcher research teams.
Ferrari’s own research focuses on active perception, computational intelligence, and sensorimotor learning and control theory. She is currently Director of the Ithaca-based Intelligent Systems and Controls Laboratory (LISC) and Co-Director of the Cornell-Unibo Věho Institute on Vehicle Intelligence at Cornell Tech.
In perhaps a first working demonstration she will build on as Associate Dean, Ferrari recently hosted the successful Autonomy and Mobility in Technical and Natural Environments workshop, held on Roosevelt Island and highlighted the latest research and proposed smart and urban city solutions. technological academic communities.
“Silvia’s work sits at the intersection of several emerging areas of science and technology that underpin priority research directions at both Cornell Engineering and Cornell Tech,” said Lynden Archer, Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering. “Her familiarity with both campuses, as well as her proven ability to forge strong relationships with industry, government and international partners, makes her ideal to lead our cross-campus research partnership.
Prior to joining Cornell, Ferrari was a professor of engineering and computer science at Duke University, where she founded and led an NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship and Fellowship program on wireless smart sensor networks. She received her Bachelor of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as well as a Masters and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University.
“One of the main reasons I chose Cornell is that our research is designed to be so interdisciplinary, which is ideal for the future of engineering,” Ferrari said. “Because of our culture, bringing Cornell Engineering and Cornell Tech together in this way will create tremendous opportunities. I look forward to hearing insights from faculty and students across the Cornell community as we embark on this new phase of engineering research on our campuses.
