About CERLAB
The Computational Engineering & Robotics Lab at Carnegie Mellon University develops technologies that advance computational engineering and robotics to address real-world challenges and improve society.
Mission
From theory to working systems
CERLAB bridges theoretical research and practical applications, focusing on interdisciplinary solutions to real-world challenges across engineering, medicine and technology.
Leadership
Laboratory director
Kenji Shimada, Ph.D.
Theodore Ahrens Professor in Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- The Robotics Institute
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research philosophy
- Interdisciplinary innovation
- Bridging multiple engineering disciplines to create comprehensive solutions.
- Real-world impact
- Focusing on research that directly benefits society and improves quality of life.
- Computational excellence
- Leveraging advanced computational methods and cutting-edge technology.
- Collaborative research
- Working with students and researchers from diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Research
Five research themes
Our projects are grouped into five themes. Each links to its projects on the research page.
Autonomous Aerial Robots
Drones and blimps that navigate, explore and inspect GPS-denied spaces such as tunnels, canals and construction sites.
4 projects →Legged, Ground & Marine Robots
Quadrupeds, ground vehicles, crawlers and underwater robots with semantic perception for inspecting buildings, ships and infrastructure.
8 projects →Robotic Construction & Manufacturing
Industrial robots for concrete spray printing, window installation, welding, mining, inspection and additive-manufacturing post-processing.
10 projects →Medical Devices & Healthcare
Patient-specific devices, surgical training phantoms, custom-fit masks and clinical imaging designed with computational tools.
9 projects →Computational Design & AI
Mesh generation, shape optimization, simulation and machine-learning tools that connect geometry, physics and data.
11 projects →Lab life
A legacy of innovation
From research expeditions to collaborative projects across continents, the lab has built a tradition of innovation, mentorship and discovery.
Join us
Join our research
We welcome students and researchers interested in computational engineering and robotics, and the chance to work on projects that address real-world challenges.
- 1
Submit an application
Review our research areas and apply through the online form.
Apply now - 2
Send your resume
Email your resume to shimada@cmu.edu with the subject “Interested in CERLAB projects”.
Email the lab
Selected candidates are invited to meet Professor Shimada within a few days of applying to discuss technical interests and research opportunities.
Our home
Carnegie Mellon University
CERLAB is part of Carnegie Mellon University, one of the world's leading research institutions, and benefits from its interdisciplinary approach and facilities.
- World-class
- Research institution with global recognition in engineering and technology.
- Interdisciplinary
- Collaborative environment spanning multiple departments and institutes.
- Innovation
- Cutting-edge facilities and resources for advanced research and development.