Maja J. Matarić is the Chan Soon-Shiong Chair and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Pediatrics in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California. She earned her B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Kansas in 1987, followed by an M.S. in 1990 and Ph.D. in 1994 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As founding director of the USC Robotics and Autonomous Systems Center and co-director of the USC Robotics Research Lab, Matarić has shaped robotics research at USC. Her leadership roles include interim Vice President of Research (January 2020–July 2021), Vice Dean for Research (July 2006–December 2019), President of the USC faculty and Academic Senate (2005–2006), and USC Viterbi School of Engineering Ambassador to the USC President. She serves as Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind and has spearheaded K-12 STEM outreach, founding the USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center and developing robotics curricula for elementary and middle schools.

Matarić pioneered socially assistive robotics, focusing on personalized human-robot interactions for health, wellness, rehabilitation, education, and support for children on the autism spectrum, stroke and dementia patients, and individuals with anxiety or depression. Her foundational work also advanced multi-robot coordination and learning. Notable publications include "A Formal Analysis and Taxonomy of Task Allocation in Multi-Robot Systems" (with B.P. Gerkey, 2004), "Mobile Sensor Network Deployment Using Potential Fields" (with A. Howard and G.S. Sukhatme, 2002), "Defining Socially Assistive Robotics" (with D. Feil-Seifer, 2005), and the book "The Robotics Primer" (MIT Press, 2007). Her accolades encompass election to the National Academy of Engineering (2025), American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2023), ACM Athena Lecturer Award (2024), ACM Fellow (2021), IEEE Fellow (2010), AAAI Fellow (2017), and U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (2011). One of robotics' most highly cited researchers, she advises three major journals, contributes to public outreach, and appears in the documentary "Me & Isaac Newton."

Professional Email: mataric@usc.edu