Johnson and Michalek named ASME fellows

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) named Aaron Johnson, professor of mechanical engineering, and Jeremy Michalek, professor of mechanical engineering and professor of engineering and public policy, June 2025 ASME fellows. 

Nominated by current ASME members and fellows, this membership grade of distinction recognizes significant engineering achievements and is awarded to members who have at least 10 years of active corporate membership in ASME. 

Johnson, who was previously awarded the National Science Foundation CAREER award and is the author of more than 60 peer-reviewed papers, was nominated for his outstanding contributions to research and development of robot design, hybrid system modeling, and commitment to educating the next generation of mechanical engineers. Johnson researches how to design intelligent interactions between a robot and its environment. He is specifically focused on designing robots that go beyond a traditional, controlled environment, like a lab or factory, and can interact in the real world. 

As the director of the Robomechanics Lab, Johnson has pioneered legged robot design and control. His work has demonstrated how small legged robots can be useful in navigating rough terrain or unstructured environments, which pose challenges to traditional wheeled robots. His research can enable robots to work better for a wide range of applications, with his lab particularly focusing on using robots for environmental monitoring of contaminants. 

Additionally, Johnson leads the area of hybrid dynamical systems and controls. For robots whose contact conditions often change, having both smooth motions of continuous systems (e.g., positions or velocities) and the event-driven actions of discrete systems (e.g. contact) is a challenge. Johnson’s work seeks to further the understanding of hybrid systems to improve state estimation and control algorithms. He uses a mathematical model called a saltation matrix to describe the uncertainty for hybrid state estimation, which is particularly important for events such as leg touchdown. 

At CMU, Johnson has helped to revamp the graduate-level robotics curriculum with the creation of two new classes and established a Robotics and Control track for a new master’s degree program. He also leads community outreach events to encourage the next generation of engineers, including an after-school program for local middle school students to learn computer-aided design and robotics.  

“This is a great honor and one that is only possible because of the wonderful CMU students I have had the chance to work with,” Johnson said. “Since starting my lab, we have seen an explosion in interest in legged and field robotics, and it is exciting to see our research become more mainstream.”

Michalek’s research focuses on vehicle electrification, and he is recognized globally as an expert on electric vehicles and shared mobility. Previously recognized by the ASME with the Design Automation Outstanding Young Investigator Award and the Thar Energy Design Award, Michalek was nominated for impactful contributions on technology, economic, environmental, behavioral, and policy dimensions of electric vehicles and shared mobility. His work has led to fundamental advancements and applications of methods for optimization, choice modeling, and game theory in engineering design, resulting in notable engagement of the public and decision-makers in government and industry.

Additionally, Michalek’s work has been featured in broad-interest outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Scientific American, and National Public Radio, among many others. Michalek has also led the writing and dissemination of policy briefs on electric vehicle and ride hailing research findings and is an active science communicator, engaging the public and decision-makers in government through his testimony on proposed legislation. 

Michalek's contributions extend to CMU faculty, staff, and students, having led the development of a new M.S. program in Engineering and Public Policy. He also co-developed a unique course that teaches students how to assess the economic viability of commercializing a new technology in a competitive market setting, thereby educating a new generation of engineers with skills to bridge engineering with public policy. 

“I’m honored to receive this distinction, and I think it speaks to the importance and value of engineers engaging the public discussion and the public policy process to help determine how society should engage with, enable, incentivize, regulate, and use engineered systems,” Michalek said.