About

We combine creativity, science and applied engineering to enable technologies which are brought to life in the shop/lab. Students in this lab learn how to be inventors, designers, modeling experts, master fabricators and world-class researchers.

Meritocracy and True Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

DEI is not artificially forced in our lab, we are diverse because DEI is a symptom of true meritocracy… so it happens naturally in this lab. Here, you are treated as a gifted person regardless of your appearance, beliefs, affiliations, pronouns, etc. What matters most is your professional promise and performance. Members of this lab work hard to become the best they can be and they help their peers do the same.

Mentoring, Research and Career Development

In our lab, students do a research-based thesis that is more advanced than those usually found in most academic labs. In addition to their core thesis research, students put in the time and effort to learn to formulate their own research ideas, develop strategies for running research labs/projects, write proposals, create budgets, etc. This type of experience requires more effort and commitment from the student (and Prof. Culpepper) but yields people that leave MIT with an extraordinary set of skills, high self confidence, resilience and persistence… people that can tackle any problem they are faced with. With that said, we also focus on making sure all of us maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Some lab alumni that have gone on to become highly respected faculty/engineers include:

  • Prof. Sourabh Saha (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Prof. Jonathan Hopkins (UCLA)

  • Prof. Shih-Chi Chen (Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Prof. Michael Cullinan (UT Austin)

  • Dr. Dariusz Golda (Director of Technology at Luxvue Technology)

  • Dr. Maria Telleria (Co-Founder and CTO at Canvas)

  • Dr. Chris DiBiasio (Assoc. Engineering Deputy, National Security and Space at Draper)

  • Carlos Araque (Co-founder and CEO at Quaise)

  • Dr. Alexander H Slocum, Jr (MD, PhD - Surgeon at Atlantic Plastic Surgery & Medi-Spa)

  • Adrienne Watral (Scrum Master at IHS Markit)

Awards

Leadership

Prof. Culpepper’s skills in practical engineering and community-building have led MIT to call upon him to lead important efforts:

MIT’s manufacturing of PPE for COVID
When COVID hit, MIT sought to marshal its resources to serve the nation/world. One facet of that effort involved the manufacturing of PPE (personal protective equipment) to fill gaps until global supply chains recovered. Culpepper co-led the MIT PPE manufacturing effort with Profs. Fisher and Edelman (Chair). MIT made a difference in many ways, one of them being the MIT face shield through Project Manus.

Student Agency in Makerspaces
Culpepper founded and led Project Manus, which started the process of revitalizing makerspaces, maker programming and the maker community at MIT. This multi-year, multi-million dollar effort led to the creation of makerspaces that empower students to build/create on their own (Metropolis, The Deep, ProtoWorkshop, MakerWorkshop, and the planned 16,000 ft2 MET makerspace). Prof. Culpepper is currently aiding the launch of MIT’s accessible advanced technology makerspace, the SHED.

Administrative Contact

Doug Foley
35-211
dougfole@mit.edu

For students interested in meeting with Prof. Culpepper

Undergraduates - email Doug per above regarding UROPs, senior thesis and class issues

Graduate students, if you:

  • Have been accepted to a graduate program at MIT (MechE, Electrical, Aero, etc…) please email to schedule a meeting with my admin, Doug per above.

  • Have NOT been accepted to a graduate program at MIT, please understand that it is not possible to field requests for meetings until you have been admitted.

B.Sc., 1995

M.Sc., 1997

Ph.D., 2000