Yoky Matsuoka is an associate professor of Computer Science and Engineering and director of the Neurorobotics laboratory at the University of Washington. In 2007 the 36-year-old scientist was named a MacArthur Fellow for her cutting-edge research:Working at the intersection of computer science, biophysics, material science, biomechanics, and psychophysics, Matsuoka creates sophisticated prosthetic devices and designs complementary rehabilitation strategies.Matsuoka has juggled her scientific career with being a mother of three young children. In a booklet on "Juggling Work and Family" published by the AAAS (pdf), Matsuoka noted that traveling to meetings is a "challenge that especially affects scientist-moms":
With two-year-old twins plus a third child, she says it's only recently that there has been much acceptance about how difficult it is for women with children to go to conferences without extra assistance. Yoky has obtained special permission from her department to spend unrestricted grant funds to enable travel to meetings.Are there actually any conferences that have a day care option? I would think that would be quite helpful.
More about Matsuoka's research:
- Interview on KUOW Sound Focus (mp3). It sounds like her baby was sitting in on the interview.
- Last October she was named one of PopSci's Annual Brilliant Ten.
- Talking Robots podcast: Yoky Matsuoka - Neurobotic Prosthetics
- Microsoft Research video: Understanding Human Movements to Enhance HCI Environmements
- Wired Science: Making a Better Robotic Hand: It's All in the Palm
- Seattle PI: 2 local scientists win McArthur 'genius' awards
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