Marek Michalowski, Ph.D.
Marek Michalowski, Ph.D., earned his B.A. and M.S. in computer science and
psychology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University,
with a thesis entitled, Rhythmic Human-Robot Social Interaction. He has
conducted psychological research into autism, nonverbal interaction, and social
development using Keepon Pro, a teleoperable social robot. He cofounded BeatBots
with Dr. Hideki Kozima, the designer of Keepon, to commercialize their robots in
order to support further research and development of therapeutic tools. He oversaw
the development of the My Keepon toy, launched in Toys ‘R’ Us in 2011, and designed
the Zingy character featured in UK-based EDF Energy’s “Feel Better Energy” advertising
campaign. He has appeared on the Today Show to discuss the use of robots
in autism therapy. He has won numerous National Science Foundation grants, the
Smiley Award, a Popular Science Best of Toy Fair Award, and a Maker Faire Editor’s
Choice Award.