Veronica Santos, Ph.D.

Veronica Santos, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. She serves as the Inclusive Excellence Officer and is associated with the UCLA Biomechatronics Laboratory, where she directs research initiatives. Her work focuses on grasp and manipulation, hand biomechanics, haptics, human-machine systems, machine learning, and robotics. Santos has contributed to projects involving robotic hands for mine defusal and prosthetics, with notable publications and media coverage. She is also involved in educational and outreach efforts, including a $100-million gift to UCLA. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Veronica J. Santos is a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializing in hand biomechanics, grasp and manipulation, human-machine systems, prosthetics and robotics, tactile sensors and haptics. Her research explores the development of biomimetic tactile sensor arrays, flexible microfluidic sensors, and human-inspired robotic hands. Santos investigates the biomechanics of the human hand, focusing on how anatomical variability influences robotic hand design and control. Her work also addresses the integration of tactile feedback in prosthetics and neurorehabilitation, emphasizing the role of haptic perception and reinforcement learning in enhancing robotic embodiment.