Dr. Nialah Wilson-Small
Bio
CV | Google Scholar I am a robotics researcher, educator, and consultant. My work centers coordination algorithms for multi-robot systems and human-drone interactions. Specifically, I study how drones can use tactile feedback to influence human motion. My work is at the cross section of design, human-robot interaction, and autonomy. I earned my PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University where I became the first Black woman in the university's history to do so. I also earned a MS in Aerospace Engineering from Cornell and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University. A little more about me: I love combining robotics and dance in my professional and personal life, and I'm passionate about K12+ education reform. |
News
4/25/2025 I am an invited performer at ICRA 2025 as part of the Arts in Robotics programming! Tickets are available to the general public here. 12/16/2024 I started a new position as a Research Scientist at The Robotics, Automation, and Dance (RAD) Lab in Philadelphia! 1/1/2024 I was named to the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 List! 10/1/2023 I’m now an Artist in Residence with Smashworks Dance in NYC! 1/11/2023 My paper "Exploring Human-Drone Collaboration Through Contact Improvisation" was accepted as a Late Breaking Report to the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)! 12/3/2022 My paper "A Drone Teacher: Designing Physical Human-Drone Interactions for Movement Instruction" was accepted to the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI)! 8/8/2022 I started a new position as an Industry Assistant Professor at NYU! I'll be teaching robotics courses in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department in the Tandon School of Engineering. 6/27/22 I successfully defended my dissertation entitled "Embodied Physical Interactions for Robot-to-Robot and Robot-to-Human Coordination"! 5/18/21 My abstract, "Designing Tactile Human-Drone Interactions for Movement Instruction" was accepted for an oral presentation at the inaugural STEMNoire Conference. 2/11/21 I was featured in the Black in Robotics 'Meet the Members' Series. |