I am a roboticist and a hardware generalist with a mechanical engineering specialization. I am passionate about pushing the boundaries of robotic mobility through creative solutions and innovative designs. My robots have mapped volcanic fissures, excavated Martian-analog soil with their wheels, and climbed steep surfaces with bioinspired legs.
In 2023 I completed my PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, where I performed research with the Robomechanics Lab. My thesis was on enhancing the capabilities of planetary exploration rovers through nonprehensile manipulation and compensation for mobility failure through novel driving strategies. While at CMU, I was funded by a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, which supported my graduate work on expanding rover mobility and manipulation capabilities and allowed me to work at various NASA sites as a Visiting Technologist. In 2024, I joined the Advanced Robotic Systems group at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a Robotics Mechanical Engineer. At JPL, I worked on the Sample Recovery Helicopter for Mars Sample Return and robotics for In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing.
When not working on robots I can often be found outside. In graduate school, I led the Carnegie Mellon Explorer’s Club and was a member of the Explorers Club of Pittsburgh, where I helped teach the Rock Climbing and Mountaineering schools. I also pursue a variety of creative projects in my free time, and I am currently accepting ceramics commissions on a limited basis.
Catherine Pavlov 