Sean Follmer

Sean Follmer is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University and an Associate Professor of Computer Science by courtesy. He directs the Stanford SHAPE Lab, is a faculty member of the Stanford HCI Group, and is core faculty in the Design master’s program. His research focuses on human-computer interaction, haptics, human-robot interaction, and human-centered design, including shape-changing and tangible user interfaces, accessible interfaces for people who are blind or visually impaired, shape-changing robotics, and design/debugging tools for physical computing and robotic systems. The lab combines robotics, mechatronics, and sensing to develop interactive dynamic physical 3D displays and haptic interfaces for richer remote collaboration, computer-aided design, education, and visual-impairment interfaces.

He received a PhD and an S.M. from the MIT Media Lab in 2015 and 2011, respectively, and a B.S. in Engineering from Stanford University in 2009, with a focus on Product Design. His official profile lists, among other honors, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, an NSF CAREER Award, Google Faculty Research Awards, and ACM UIST/CHI best-paper or best-demo awards.

• Present·Stanford University, Department of Mechanical Engineering·Associate Professor; Associate Professor of Computer Science (by courtesy)
  • Directs the SHAPE Lab and researches haptics, shape-changing interfaces, accessible interfaces, and robotics.
• 2015–2022 (official appointment records)·Stanford University·Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Assistant Professor of Computer Science (by courtesy) from 2016
  • Stanford records show the Mechanical Engineering appointment began July 1, 2015 and was reappointed through July 31, 2022.
• 2015·MIT Media Lab·Postdoctoral Associate

• 2015·MIT Media Lab·PhD
  • Research in human-computer interaction.
• 2011·MIT Media Lab·S.M.
• 2009·Stanford University·B.S. in Engineering
  • Focus on Product Design.

Sources and verification: Stanford Profiles, Stanford Computer Science, Stanford Mechanical Engineering Design Group, SHAPE Lab, and Stanford Report appointment records; last checked 2026-09-23. Detailed sources and limitations are documented in persons/_review/110_Sean Follmer/reference.md.