Rice University has announced that computer scientist Lydia Kavraki has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her pioneering work in developing randomized motion-planning algorithms for robotics and robotics-inspired methods in biomedicine.

According to Rice University, the Open Motion Planning Library, developed and maintained by Kavraki's lab since 2008, is widely integrated into software systems used in industrial, space, and medical applications.

Her contributions to NASA's Robonaut2 and her research on robots for astronaut assistance highlight her influence on the future of physical artificial intelligence (AI).

In biomedicine, Kavraki's computational tools offer state-of-the-art support for clinicians, including at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where her APE-Gen tool has assisted in guiding personalized immunotherapy.

Her election to the NAE acknowledges the transformative impact of her work in robotics, where her development of sampling-based motion-planning algorithms has revolutionized the field, reducing planning times from minutes to mere fractions of a second.

This innovation supports her vision for a world where "robots can work safely and seamlessly alongside humans," thereby opening new frontiers in human-robot collaboration across various sectors, including industrial automation, space exploration, and robot-assisted surgery.

In a statement from Rice University, President Reginald DesRoches commended Kavraki, noting that her innovative work has inspired generations of engineers and researchers while advancing the field of robotics, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence through groundbreaking contributions.

Kavraki holds the position of Kenneth and Audrey Kennedy Professor of Computing at Rice, and she is a professor of computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and bioengineering.

Additionally, she serves as the director of the Ken Kennedy Institute, which aims to address global challenges by fostering collaborative research and innovation in AI and computing.

Beyond her research contributions, Kavraki is also a dedicated mentor and leader.

Her commitment to AI innovation as an ethics-informed practice is evident in recent projects that tackle issues such as bias in data and machine learning models for immunotherapy and privacy concerns related to robots operating in human environments.

Kavraki is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

She has received numerous awards and distinctions, including being recognized as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

With over 400 research publications and a robotics textbook, she has mentored more than 30 PhD students and 20 postdoctoral researchers and supervised over 100 undergraduates on various research projects during her tenure at Rice.

Kavraki said, "It is an incredible honor to join this community. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of my students and collaborators who have worked alongside me to push the boundaries of robotics and computational biomedicine. I look forward to continuing our work to develop intelligent systems that benefit society."

Congratulations to @LydiaKavraki, Rice’s Kenneth and Audrey Kennedy Professor of Computing, on her election to the National Academy of Engineering! She was recognized for advancements in robotics, AI and computational biomedicine.https://t.co/98JXAwoTbk @theNAEng pic.twitter.com/IxwgRZhj88

— Rice Computer Science (@RiceCompSci) February 12, 2025