Rate My Professor Cesare Stefanini

Professor Cesare Stefanini is Professor of Robotics at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). His research lies at the intersection of robotics, AI, micro-mechatronics, and bio-robotics, with a focus on both theoretical and applied aspects. He has led numerous projects that integrate biology and robotics for healthcare, rehabilitation, and environmental applications. His major contributions are in bio-inspired robotics, including insect-scale robots and soft robots that emulate biological mechanics for safer and more adaptive human interaction, particularly in medical contexts like minimally invasive surgery and rehabilitation. His early work in medical micro-mechatronics introduced autonomous legged robotic tools for gastrointestinal endoscopy. He is co-inventor of the microsurgical robot commercialized by Medical Microinstruments (MMI), which has achieved CE and FDA certifications. Recent efforts include bioinspired underwater robotics for swarm operations and interactive robotic fish to study animal behavior. Through collaborations with companies like GE, Amazon, and MMI, he has translated academic research into real-world technologies, including patented systems for robotic manipulation and human-task automation.

Prior to joining MBZUAI, Professor Stefanini was Director of the BioRobotics Institute at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA) in Italy and served as Dean of the Faculty of Applied Experimental Sciences at SSSA. He earned his M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics and Automation track, and his Ph.D. in Industrial and Information Engineering with a specialization in Microengineering from SSSA, graduating with honors in 1997 and 2002, respectively. He conducted part of his doctoral research as a visiting researcher at Stanford University’s Center for Design Research. Professor Stefanini is the author of over 240 scientific publications and the inventor of 18 international patents, ten of which have been industrially exploited. He is a member of the UAE’s Academy of Scientists and serves on the editorial board of the IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. His recognitions include the Intuitive Surgical Research Award, three First Prizes at the International Micro Robot Maze Contest, and the TIME Best Inventions of 2024 award for the MMI Symani Surgical System. He has organized high-impact workshops at the intersection of AI and robotics and is a frequent keynote speaker at major international conferences.