Maja Matarić

Maja Matarić, a pioneer in robotics, is a professor and Chan Soon-Shiong Chair of Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Pediatrics; founding director of the USC Center for Robotics and Embedded Systems; and vice dean for research at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. She was a 2011 recipient of the Presidential Mentoring Award. Matarić has helped in the creation of robots that assist in human care for monitoring and coaching stroke victims, providing companionship to depressed and isolated seniors, and bringing kids with autism closer to their family and peers. She also is urging more women to pursue careers in engineering, and to help shape the future of science