Dr. Todd Murphey

Professor

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Biography

Professor Todd Murphey is a faculty member at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering, specializing in Mechanical Engineering and serving as the Director of Transformative Research. His research focuses on computational methods, data-driven control, information theory, and physical systems, with a particular interest in embodied intelligence. He has led numerous innovative projects, including robotic exploration using mechanical contact and human-in-the-loop control systems. Murphey has received significant recognition for his work, including the National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2006 and membership on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board since 2019. His professional service roles included serving as an editor for the IEEE Transactions on Robotics from 2014 to 2018. Murphey has contributed extensively to publications in prestigious journals, focusing on hybrid control systems and mechanical computing, among other topics. He is also noted for developing a massive online course on systems modeling, which engaged over 18,000 students. Throughout his career, Professor Murphey has been dedicated to enhancing education and research in robotics and control systems.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

— Present

Northwestern University • Evanston, IL

Teaching and conducting research in Mechanical Engineering.

Awards

#

National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Courses

Everything Modeling Engineered Systems Machine Dynamics Numerical Methods for Optimal Control

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.