Biography:

Dr. Jafari Received his Ph.D in Robotics in 2011 from Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genova, Italy. From 2011 to 2013, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH in Zurich. He then moved to Agency for Science, Research and Technology A*STAR in Singapore in 2014 as a Research Scientist. Since 2016 he is an Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering at UTSA.

Dr. Jafari's research focuses on novel solutions and devices that can contribute to the advancement of emerging technologies in soft robotics for physical Human-Robot Interaction pHRI applications, such as rehabilitation robotics. The technology requirement for these type of robotic systems is fundamentally different than those that have been developed for industrial applications. Softness is "the key factor" in developing any robotic platform that is supposed to physically interact with humans. In particular, Dr. Jafari is focusing on the actuation part of such systems and is currently working on 1) novel artificial muscles, 2) compact and robust variable stiffness actuators, 3) autonomous surgical systems, and 4) understanding the role of walking surface compliance on human gait, energy expenditure and muscle activations.

At the undergraduate level Dr. Jafari teaches Mechatronics and at the graduate level he teaches Advanced Robotic Design. This course introduces students to modeling, analysis, and design of compliant actuators Series Elastic Actuators (SEAs) and Variable Stiffness Actuators (VSAs), and their applications in robotic systems. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, walking, swimming and playing with his kids.