People - DFab

Co-Directors

Adriana Schulz

Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Personal Webpage

Adriana Schulz is an assistant professor at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, where she develops novel computational design tools to drive and democratize the next manufacturing revolution. She uses data-driven methods to create intelligent tools that make design more efficient and accessible, and real-time performance-driven methods for design based on functionality. She incorporates these ideas into interactive tools that allow design of complex functional mechanisms that require design and optimization of not only geometry, but also motion and control.

Jeffrey Lipton

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Personal Webpage

Dr. Jeffrey Lipton is an assistant professor at the University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Department. He develops novel materials and manufacturing methods to enhance the capabilities of robots and uses robots to create novel materials and manufacturing methods. This often involves new 3D printing methods, mechanical metamaterials, and robotic fabrication tools.

He was a Post Doctoral Associate at the MIT’s CSAIL in the Distributed Robotics Lab under Daniela Rus. He received his BS in Applied and Engineering Physics and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. His Ph.D. work was under Hod Lipson in the Creative Machines Lab. His past work on 3D printed foods and 3D printing for the hospitality industry has influenced two of the largest 3D printing companies in America and garnered media attention from the New York Times, BBC, and others. He was the lead developer for the Fab@Home project which supported life science and food science researchers’ 3D printing needs on all six habitable continents.

Nadya Peek

Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering
Personal Webpage

Nadya Peek develops unconventional digital fabrication tools, small scale automation, networked controls, and advanced manufacturing systems. Spanning electronics, firmware, software, and mechanics, her research focuses on harnessing the precision of machines for the creativity of individuals. Nadya directs the Machine Agency at the University of Washington where she is an assistant professor in Human-Centered Design and Engineering. Machines and systems Nadya has built are shared widely including at CHI, TEI, SIGGRAPH, Guggenheim Berlin, and the White House Maker Faire, and she has given keynotes at CCC, SolidCon, and Symposium on Computational Fabrication. Nadya advises a diverse crowd on manufacturing and making including the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; NASA Ames; the Shenzhen Mayor’s office; Moog Aerosystems; A. Zahner Company; Nervous System; and Jeff Koons. Nadya is an active member of the global fab lab community, making digital fabrication more accessible with better CAD/CAM tools and developing open source hardware machines and control systems. She is on the board of the Open Source Hardware Association, half of the design studio James and the Giant Peek, plays drum machines and synths in the band Construction and got her PhD at MIT in the Center for Bits and Atoms.

Associate Director

Colleen Carroll

Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering

Colleen is the Maker in Residence at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering where she does digital fabrication in support of research. She is a user experience researcher and designer who specializes in rapid prototyping, as well as a mentor, speaker, and advocate for women and girls in STEM. Her background is in computer science and human-centered design.