New Microsoft/Maryland Robotics Center partnership to enhance diversity and innovation

New Microsoft/Maryland Robotics Center partnership to enhance diversity and innovation

New Microsoft/Maryland Robotics Center partnership to enhance diversity and innovation


As industry demand for engineers in the 21st century grows while national trends show a decline in engineering enrollment, competition for diverse talent is intensifying across the U.S. To help meet this challenge, the Maryland Robotics Center and Microsoft Corporation are announcing a new, mutually beneficial strategic partnership focused on enhancing both diversity and innovation in robotics and autonomy.

The Microsoft Robotics and Diversity Initiative is a one-year, $100K partnership that starts in the Fall 2022 semester and supports two Ph.D. fellowships, a seminar series in robotics and autonomy, an undergraduate course in robotics programming and student-led STEM diversity groups.

“It’s exciting to receive this level of support and generosity from Microsoft to amplify our ongoing diversity initiatives,” said Derek Paley, director of the Maryland Robotics Center. “This gift will especially support activities in robotics and applied autonomy, complementing our other ongoing efforts in AI and machine learning.”

Microsoft Diversity in Robotics and Autonomy Ph.D. Fellowships will support two Ph.D. students for one academic year as they conduct research in robotics and autonomous systems modeling, simulation, and experimentation. The Maryland Robotics Center will leverage Microsoft’s support, funding tuition and benefits for these Microsoft Fellows.

The Microsoft Future Leaders in Robotics and Autonomy Seminar Series will enable Maryland students to learn from future leaders in robotics and autonomy, celebrating diversity and innovation.

The Robotics and Autonomous Systems Minor Course in Robotics Programming is a hands-on undergraduate robotics programming class in the Robotics and Autonomous Systems minor program. Students use Robot Operating System and other tools to design, implement and test a robotic system. Microsoft will contribute towards the cost of providing students with additional robotics programming devices.

The partnership also will provide support for student-led STEM diversity groups, supporting their missions and robotics-related activities for the academic year. The groups include the Black Engineers Society, the Society for Professional Hispanic Engineers, Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Society of Women Engineers.

“With the exciting future of robotics and autonomy in view, Microsoft enthusiastically supports the Maryland Robotics Center’s efforts to foster the next generation of tech leaders,” said Timothy Chung, senior director of robotics at Microsoft. “We celebrate and embrace the positive benefits of diversity and inclusion as part of the broad robotics community.”

Related Articles:
Oh, the logistics!
BIOE Undergrad Launches Black STEMpowerment
MRC and MAGE Earn ARM Institute Endorsement
$100,000 investment from Amazon to power Clark School initiatives in diversity, robotics research and education
Voice of America video highlights kidney transplant drone flight
Student autonomous drone racing team takes 2nd place at IROS
Derek Paley named Maryland Robotics Center director
Miao Yu named Maryland Robotics Center director
2010 Maryland Robotics Day draws large crowd
Tuna-Inspired Mechanical Fin Could Boost Underwater Drone Power

July 29, 2022


Prev   Next

Current Headlines

Novel Energy Storage Could Push Batteries for Electric Aviation, Grid Power

Maryland Engineering: Top 10 Among Public Graduate Programs, 7 Years Running

Research Paper and Cover Art Now Feature Article in Journal

MC2 Undergraduate Researcher Wins Goldwater Scholarship

$12.75M MPower Grant to Spur Biomedical Tech Advances in UMCP, UMB Collaboration

UMD Reliability Engineering Students Champion Young Scientists at PGASF

Tuna-Inspired Mechanical Fin Could Boost Underwater Drone Power

The Clark School Celebrates Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) Heritage Month

News Resources

Return to Newsroom

Search News

Archived News

Events Resources

Events Calendar