Research Scientist

Sam joined IHMC in September 2024 as a Research Scientist working in Pensacola and collaborating with principal investigators across the Institute. He also will share time at the University of West Florida. His work will focus on autonomous maritime systems and human-machine teaming.

He earned a Ph.D. at Dartmouth College where he worked on autonomous robotic underwater construction. He is interested in applying computational techniques to solve fabrication, engineering, and construction problems. He believes in a holistic approach to robotics research and was drawn to IHMC by its focus on human integration with technological systems. He developed the first autonomous underwater construction robot, called Droplet, and developed algorithms for analyzing the stability of large systems of loosely connected building blocks.

Outside of work, his hobbies include cooking, lifting weights, playing Dungeons and Dragons.