Biography:
Victoria Chibuogu Nneji is a Nigerian-born American computer scientist, design and innovation strategist, and a lecturing fellow, known for her research on robotics, automation, human-centered design, and autonomous transportation.
Victoria Chibuogu Nneji was born in Lagos, Nigeria. At the age of 5, she and her family immigrated to the United States and was raised in Durham, North Carolina. Nneji’s passion for science and technology began to develop during her time at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), where she started attending in her junior year of high school.
Continuing her pursuit of knowledge, Nneji earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Columbia University. She was one of the first in her family to pursue post-secondary education and studied under Adam Sobel. During her time at Columbia University, Nneji conducted a quantitative analysis on how changes in financial aid would impact a student’s performance and the duration of their completion of an associate’s degree. Her research aimed to understand how improvements in financial aid could support students in achieving their academic goals.
Notably, Nneji received an Anita Borg scholarship to support her attendance at Columbia University. This scholarship recognized her dedication and contributions to the field of computer science. Alongside her studies, Nneji served as a consultant for the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) in Washington Heights. During her time at NMIC, she conducted user research to improve EcoMundo, the women’s domestic violence recovery group within the organization. Nneji’s work aimed to enhance the support and resources available to survivors of domestic violence.
Motivated by her passion for innovation and technology, Nneji pursued further education, obtaining a master’s degree in engineering management from Duke University. She continued her academic journey and earned her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Robotics Center at Duke University in 2019. Following her graduation, Nneji joined Duke University as a robotics lecturing fellow, where she dedicated her expertise to educating and inspiring future generations of roboticists.
Her research contributions have been influential in the field of robotics. Nneji, along with co-authors Alexander Stimpson, Mary Cummings from Duke University, and Kenneth H. Goodrich from NASA Langley Research Center, published a research paper titled Exploring Concepts of Operations for On-Demand Passenger Air Transportation in 2017. The paper highlighted the complexities and challenges of developing technology for on-demand passenger air travel and the necessary regulatory framework. Their research indicated that it would take more than a decade to create the required technology and regulatory infrastructure.
Additionally, Nneji has conducted research on human-robot interaction. In 2016, she co-authored a research paper titled Tell Me More: Designing HRI to Encourage More Trust, Disclosure, and Companionship with Nikolas Martelaro, Wendy Ju, and Pamela Hinds. The study explored how vulnerability and expressivity in robots can improve people’s relationships with them. Through engaging high school students with different types of robots, the research found that students were more trusting of vulnerable robots and more communicative with expressive robots.
In 2019, Nneji was appointed to Uber’s self-driving safety and responsibility advisory (SARA). As part of the advisory board, she contributed to reviewing, advising, and suggesting changes to Uber’s autonomous vehicle development. Her expertise and insights were valuable in ensuring the safety and responsible implementation of self-driving technology.
Victoria Chibuogu Nneji’s dedication to advancing robotics, automation, and human-centered design has made her a respected figure in the field. Her research, education, and contributions have paved the way for future innovations and have significantly influenced the development of autonomous transportation. Through her work, Nneji continues to inspire and empower individuals to embrace technology and drive positive change.
Awards:
-Anita Borg Scholarship