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Rate My Professor Hod Lipson

Columbia University

Ratings & reviews

5.04/23/2026

Always approachable and supportive.

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About Hod

Hod Lipson is the James and Sally Scapa Professor of Innovation, Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Professor of Data Science at Columbia University in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. As a leading roboticist, he directs the Creative Machines Lab, where he and his students design and build robots that self-replicate, self-reflect, ask questions, and demonstrate creativity. His research investigates fundamental questions such as whether robots can design and manufacture other robots, whether machines can be curious and creative, and whether robots can achieve true self-awareness. Lipson has pioneered advancements in open-source 3D printing, electronics 3D printing, bio-printing, and food printing. He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in 1999, a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the same institution, and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Brandeis University in Computer Science and at MIT in Mechanical Engineering. Before joining Columbia University in 2015, he served as a professor at Cornell University from 2001 to 2015. He also co-directs the Maker Space Facility and has co-founded companies including Nutonian Inc. in 2011 and 3DBio Inc. in 2014.