Dr. Negar Mehr

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Negar Mehr is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, where she focuses on developing algorithms and mathematical models for autonomous systems to interact safely and intelligently with humans. Prior to her appointment at UC Berkeley in January 2024, she served as an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the Coordinated Science Laboratory and the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. She completed her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley in 2019 and obtained her B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, in 2013. Dr. Mehr has been recognized as a rising star in the fields of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her research interests include robotics, control theory, game theory, and machine learning, with applications in space exploration, autonomous driving, UAVs, and assistive robots. Dr. Mehr leads the Intelligent Control (ICON) lab, where her team applies robotic hardware to verify and test the developed control algorithms. She is also a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Ph.D. dissertation award in 2020.

Research Interests

Robotics Control Theory Game Theory Machine Learning

Experience

Assistant Professor

2024-01-01 — Present

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA

Joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering, focusing on algorithms and mathematical models for autonomous systems.

Assistant Professor

2020-01-01 — 2024-01-01

Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign • Urbana-Champaign, IL

Conducted research on autonomous systems and their interaction with humans.

Postdoctoral Scholar

2019-01-01 — 2020-01-01

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University • Stanford, CA

Engaged in advanced research in aeronautics and astronautics.

Awards

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NSF CAREER Award

#

IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Ph.D. Dissertation Award

Requirements for University of California, Berkeley

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GRE Subject
Overall Score
Required:500
Overall
Required:500
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent Preparation comparable to undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or Applied Mathematics 2 full years lower-division work (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus) 8 one-semester upper-division courses (Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Linear Algebra)
Application Checklist
  • Graduate Application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Personal History Statement
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Unofficial Transcripts
  • C.V./Resume
  • Course and Textbook List
Specialization Notes

The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.