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Lab Philosophy

The ROAM lab is a collaborative environment where members support one another, creating a foundation for growth as they work to reach their highest potential. One of the aspects that makes Notre Dame distinctive is its focus on educating the "whole person," and these values are also central to the lab's philosophy. Beyond our pursuit of cutting-edge research, focus is given to helping students develop as communicators, educators, and professionals through intentional advising that provides experiences within and beyond the lab that are targeted to each individual's goals. 

On the engineering side, the goal is for students to develop as independent researchers while building a comprehensive skill set in robotics. Successful PhD will have the depth needed to contribute theoretically to the hands-on abilities required to bring these ideas to life in real-world applications. The emphasis here is not merely on producing robotic outcomes but on advancing the technical foundations that push the boundaries of what robots can achieve—whether working autonomously or alongside human users.

Graduate Students

New graduate students join the lab following admission by the Graduate School, most typically to begin each fall Semester.  If you are considering applying, you may reach out to Prof. Wensing via email, including 2-3 professional products that you are most proud of (e.g., undergraduate research report, class project report, photos of projects completed, etc.). Due to the volume of requests, not all inquiries can be answered.  However, emails that show genuine personalization will have a higher probability of response. 

Undergraduate Students [Note: not taking on new students in Academic Year 2024-2025]

Prof. Wensing often works with 1-4 undergraduates at any given time, usually taking on 1-2 new students each year. Most typically, students will have taken a course with Prof. Wensing before beginning work in the lab. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of robotics research, students from across the College of Engineering can be successful in the lab. More than any specific background, a willingness to self learn and be curious are the most important characteristics necssary for successful undergraduate research. If you are interested in joining the lab, please send an email to Prof. Wensing along with some examples of engineering work that you are most proud of.