The Design Lab Welcomes Professor Sandipan Mishra as its new Director!
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Professor Sandipan Mishra as the new Director of the O.T. Swanson Multidisciplinary Design Laboratory (The Design Lab), effective March 1, 2026. A distinguished faculty member in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Professor Mishra steps into this leadership role at a pivotal moment for engineering design at RPI.
The Design Lab is the cornerstone of the School of Engineering’s(SoE) capstone experience, guiding more than 250 students annually through high-impact, real-world design challenges. From developing assistive technologies for the visually impaired (a 2025 NABA Award winner) to engineering innovative solutions to industry bottlenecks, our multidisciplinary teams continue to set the standard for excellence.
Last year, the SoE appointed a task force with representation from across the school to review and reimagine engineering design with an eye toward modernizing our design curriculum, and students' experience in alignment with the goals of the RPI Forward Plan. The task force's assessment and recommendations pointed to a real opportunity for The Design Lab to grow – not only as a premier capstone experience serving engineering students, but also by building on The Design Lab’s strong foundations to prioritize forward-looking capstone projects centered on student experience and engagement with internal and external communities. We are delighted that Sandi Mishra, an accomplished educator and researcher who led the task force, will be leading the Design Lab. He will lead the lab’s strategic vision, strengthen sponsor engagement, and advance pedagogical innovation. An important part of his charge will be to elevate The Design Lab’s visibility, cultivate relationships with new sponsors, and engage with cross-campus entities, including the Center for Smart Convergent Manufacturing Systems (CSCMS), the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship, the Office of Strategic Alliances and Translation (OSAT), and others.
About the Director
Professor Mishra received his doctoral degree from the University of California, Berkeley and, following a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joined RPI in 2010 in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, where he is currently a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. His research group develops fundamental tools in systems and control, learning, autonomy, and precision mechatronics, with applications in advanced manufacturing, next-generation UAVs, and smart buildings. Professor Mishra brings a strong record of teaching excellence across dynamical systems and control, manufacturing, and multidisciplinary capstone design, and has been recognized with numerous honors, including ASME’s Outstanding Young Investigator Award and multiple RPI awards for research, innovation, and teaching.
Please join us in welcoming Professor Mishra as he leads the Design Lab into this vibrant new chapter!
