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Prospective Students
Robotics is a multidisciplinary field, and Duke Robotics provides courses and degree programs that equip students with a broad range of expertise. Our goal is to prepare students for success in both industry and academia by offering exposure to essential skills, including software development, hardware engineering, electronics, design, system integration, and the social implications of robotics.
At A Glance
- Undergraduate courses in robotics and closely related areas are offered in the MEMS departments. We offer classes in robotics and autonomy. Many students take on robotics projects for their senior design capstone and independent study with our faculties for research opportunities.
- We offer a Master program in robotics and autonomy through MEMS department.
- Robotics is offered as a PhD concentration area in the MEMS department, with students taking courses mostly according to a recommended curriculum.
For Prospective Students
Ph.D. Students
Duke Robotics faculty are engaged in vigorous research programs, and each year we typically have several openings for outstanding Ph.D. students. The admissions process is quite selective, resulting in an intellectually stimulating environment that encourages our students to make high-impact contributions to research.
Prospective students will be considered for admission into individual departments (MEMS, ECE and CS) depending on the faculty's affiliations. Applicants are strongly advised to contact, in advance, the research advisor(s) with whom he/she wishes to work most closely. If the faculty member is accepting new students and determines that you may be a good fit, then he/she will offer advice on the appropriate home department for the student's application. This is typically their own primary department.
Accepted students may then follow the standard degree program of their home department and/or choose to complete the Robotics Certificate.
Master's Students
M.S. and M.Eng. students can be admitted to the new MEng in Robotics. All Pratt (engineering) students interested in robotics are encouraged to consider the Robotics or Medical Robotics Certificates.
Admitted Master's students with outstanding qualifications (e.g., prior research experience, excellent grades in relevant courses), may approach faculty to get involved in research. These arrangements are typically initially pursued under an independent study course, and if the research is successful, may ultimately result in a Master's thesis.
Undergraduate Students
Traineeship in the Advancement of Surgical Technologies (TAST)
An NSF National Research Traineeship program providing pathways for engineering and computer science graduate students to design innovations in fundamentally new technologies to advance surgical practice.
Duke Robotics Club
A great way to get involved is through the Duke Robotics Club, a team of Duke University student engineers advancing robotics through hands-on learning. This collaborative community fosters innovation, skill development, and a shared passion for the field.
The club competes annually in RoboSub, a contest where student teams design autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to tackle complex tasks, consistently reaching the semifinals or higher since 2001.