Pan Zhao
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Pan Zhao |
About me
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Alabama, leading the Controls and Autonomy Lab (CAL). Before joining UA in August 2023, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
My research interests include control theory, autonomous systems, aerial robotics, and applications to aerospace and agriculture. In particular, we develop and test control and decision-making algorithms to ensure the safem, robust, and efficient operation of autonomous systems in dynamic and uncertain environments.
Education
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2018
M.E. in Mechatronics Engineering, Beihang University, 2012
B.E. in Automation, Beihang University, 2009
News
03/2026: I am delighted and grateful to receive the NSF CAREER Award! My sincere thanks to the DCSD program for their support!
07/2025: I served on an NSF Panel.
06252025: I co-organized and gave a talk for the workshop on Safe Control and Learning in Autonomous Systems at ECC 2025.
10/2024: I organized and gave a talk for the tutorial session on Safety-Critical Control Under Uncertainties at MECC 2024.
06/2024: I served on two NSF panels.
04/2024: I gave a talk at the 2024 Midwest Workshop on Control and Game Theory.
02/2024: I served on an NSF panel.
01/2024: I gave a talk for the University of New Mexico ME department.
Opening
Check our lab website for opening positions.