Principal Investigator
Post Doctoral Researchers
Shraman Kadapa, Ph.D.
Shraman received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in 2025. His current research focusses on leveraging high fidelity numerical models to develop closed-loop control strategies for underwater robots operating in high-energy flow environments.
Anthony Drago, Ph.D.
Andy received his B. S. in Mechanical engineering from Drexel University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering from Drexel University. His research focuses on the application of reinforcement learning and other machine learning techniques to develop gait control for aquatic robotic platforms.
Graduate Students
Nicholas Marcouiller, Ph.D. Candidate
Nick started his higher educational career at Brookdale Community College where he received his associate degree in engineering. His education then continued at Drexel University, where he received his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and where he is currently pursuing his PhD. Nick’s research is in understanding the locomotive techniques used by the California Sea Lion in and out of the water. To conduct his research, he has developed a robotic sea lion research platform. With this platform he can better understand the dynamic and kinematic principles used by the animal to execute maneuvers such as banked turns in the water and terrestrial movement.
Sara Frunzi, Ph.D. Candidate
Sara Frunzi received her Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with a minor in Robotics Engineering, from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University, working in the lab on transitioning robotic systems between land and water.
Undergraduate Students
- Yalim Ahmet Kiral
- Danny Giesselbach
Lab Alumni
- Anthony Mignano, PhD
- Gabe Carryon, PhD (Instructor at Community College of Philadelphia)
- Lauren Garafalo, MS
- Deeksha Seth, PhD (Assistant Professor at Villanova University)
- Maxwell Painley (Test Engineer at ATI Industrial Automation)
- Jeff Kahn, Jr., PhD
- Samson Shepherd
- David McDevitt
- Jonah Gottlieb
- James Green
- Mary Milone
- Christopher Phelan
- Christopher Esposito