Dr. Heather Culbertson

Biography

Heather Culbertson is an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on the design and control of haptic devices and rendering systems, human-robot interaction, and virtual reality. She aims to create haptic interactions that naturally and realistically mimic the touch sensations experienced in physical interactions with the world. Culbertson served as a research scientist in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, contributing to the CHARM Lab. She received her PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015, where she worked with the Haptics Group as part of the GRASP Laboratory. Culbertson's academic background includes a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013 and a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2010. She is currently the General Co-Chair of the IEEE Haptics Symposium and has received numerous awards for her work, including the NSF CAREER Award and the IEEE Technical Committee on Haptics Early Career Award.

Research Interests