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I traveled to Heidelberg, Germany to present my research at BioRob 2024!
September 08, 2024
Last week, I traveled to Heidelberg, Germany for the 10th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics. While there, I presented my paper titled “The Study of Dexterous Hand Manipulation: A Synergy-Based Complexity Index” co-authored by Federico Tessari, Maggie Wang, and Neville Hogan. The paper presents and validates a new, unbiased metric to quantify manipulation complexity.
It was a wonderful experience to reconnect with old colleagues and meet some new. Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the current state-of-the-art research. Our field is heading in some exciting directions!
I started my post-doc at Johns Hopkins.
August 15, 2024
I am thrilled to be joining the Haptics and Medical Robotics (HAMR) Laboratory under Prof. Jeremy Brown as a post-doctoral trainee at Johns Hopkins University. During my time here, my research will aim to enhance the understanding of haptic feedback during manipulation tasks and use this knowledge to improve robotic rehabilitation technologies.
Caroline and I got married!
July 06, 2024
The #WestDayEver ❤️💍🔒♾️
I was hired as an Assistant Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech!
June 18, 2024
Since the summer of 2017, it has been my goal to become a university professor. Well, I am thrilled to share that that dream is coming true. I will be joining the faculty at Georgia Tech as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering starting in 2027! I greatly look forward to the opportunity to continue to contribute to cutting-edge research and help inspire the next generation of engineers! 🤓👨🏾🏫🦾✊🏿
I visited the Technical University of Munich in Germany to collaborate with the TUM In-Hand Lab!
June 12, 2024
Check out this article by MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE) commenting on my recent experience conducting research in Munich at the Technical University of Munich: Check out the article here: https://meche.mit.edu/news-media/meche-researchers-pioneer-human-motor-control-theory-through-global-collaboration-tu
A huge thanks to the TUM Global Fund for making this collaboration possible. It was a pleasure working with such an international group, including Federico Tessari, Johannes Lachner, Johanna Happold, Patricia Capsi Morales, and Cristina Piazza.
I graduated from MIT with my PhD!
May 29, 2024
After 22 years of school and I’m finally #PhinisheD. I am immensely grateful to the many opportunities that have come my way. Thank you to everyone who has believed in me and rooted for me from both near and far; ya’ll are the real MVPs.
Here’s to a long life of learning and sharing that love of learning with others. Professor West coming soon!
I successfully defended my PhD thesis earning me the title of Dr. West!
April 19, 2024
😊 I successfully defended my PhD thesis titled, “All Models Are Wrong, Simple Models Are Insightful: A Study of Human Manipulation.” In it, I delved into the intricate world of human motor control and perception, exploring the role of simple models in unraveling the complexities of upper-limb motor control and hand manipulation.
🙏🏿 None of this would have been possible without the support and guidance of my advisor, Prof. Neville Hogan, my thesis committee, my many mentors, labmates, colleagues, family, friends, and the various organizations that have shaped my academic trajectory. Thank you all!
👏🏿 Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey. Your support, encouragement, and belief in my potential have been the driving force behind my success. I am excited to embark on the next chapter in my career! 🚀
I was awarded the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship to fund my postdoctoral appointment at JHU for the 2024-2025 Academic Year!
January 11, 2024
The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship “seek to locate, promote, and nurture the work of outstanding early career postdoctoral scholars at Johns Hopkins University.” The program will prepare participants for faculty positions at Johns Hopkins (or elsewhere), particularly in fields where there are fewer women or members of underrepresented minorities.
I attended the 2023 Institute for Teaching and Mentoring.
October 28, 2023
The Institute on Teaching and Mentoring is the largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. scholars in the country. The Institute offers workshops, recruitment events, and networking opportunities to support Ph.D. scholars in their professional development. It aims to equip them with effective tools for success in academia and other relevant fields. The goal is to foster a safe environment for scholars to share insights, build a supportive community, enhance research and teaching strategies, and develop skills applicable to their chosen professions.
I presented at the 2023 International Consortium for Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR).
September 26, 2023
I presented a poster on my paper titled “The Study of Complex Manipulation via Kinematic Hand Synergies: The Effects of Data Pre-Processing” at Rehab Week 2023 in Singapore. RehabWeek is a well-established and highly reputable biennial conference that aims to cover inspiring innovations in Neurorehabilitation and their societal impacts. This year it was comprised of five different societies including the International Consortium for Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR).
My paper was selected as one of the top 60 submissions across the 5 different societies and I was selected to give a one minute elevator pitch for my research. Finally, MY POSTER WAS SELEECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 15 POSTER PRESENTATIONS!
I was featured on the front page of MIT's website!
September 13, 2023
An article discussing my journey to and throughout gradaute school was featured on the front page of the MIT website! Check out the article here: A. Michael West: Advancing human-robot interactions in health care
I participated in the TrailBlazers in Engineering program for future faculty at Purdue.
July 24, 2023
I went to Purdue to participate in their TrailBlazers in Engineering program for future faculty in Engineering.
My third paper was accepted!
June 05, 2023
My paper titled “The Study of Complex Manipulation via Kinematic Hand Synergies: The Effects of Data Pre-Processing” was accepted to the International Consortium for Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR). I will be presenting this work in Singapore in September 2023.
I was awarded the Accenture Fellowship for the 2023-2024 Academic Year!
May 18, 2023
The Accenture Fellowship Fund was established in 2020 and is awarded to graduate students with research that has potentially significant implications for industry and technology convergence.
I visited Stanford as part of the Postdoctoral Recruitment Initiative in Science and Medicine (PRISM).
May 10, 2023
I visited Stanford as part of the Postdoctoral Recruitment Initiative in Science and Medicine (PRISM). While there I presented a talk titled “Exploring Human Performance: The Importance of Studying our Limitations” to both Allison Okamura’s Research Group (the Collaborative Haptics and Robotics in Medicine (CHARM) Lab) and Scott Delp’s Research group (the Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab (NMBL)).
I presented at the Neural Control of Movement (NCM) Conference 2023!
April 18, 2023
I went to the city of Victoria, BC, Canada to participate in the Society for the Neural Control of Movement (NCM) Conference 2023. I presented both a poster titled “Reach-and-Grasp Hand Synergies differ from Manipulation Hand Synergies”. Paper coming soon!
MIT Mechanical Engineering Research Exhibition (MERE)
March 10, 2023
I received an honorable mention in the Best Overall Performance category at the Mechanical Engineering Research Exhibition (MERE) at MIT where I presented my work studying human hand synergies during tool-use and complex manipulation!
BAMIT Research SLAM!
February 23, 2023
I received 2nd place at the BAMIT research SLAM hosted by the Black Alumni at MIT (BAMIT)! I gave a 5 minute presentation summarizing my research on human hand manipulation.
I participated in the Focus Fellows Program at Georgia Tech!
January 12, 2023
Went to Georgia Tech to participate in their Focus Fellows Program for future faculty.
I got engaged!
December 29, 2022
While on a date at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, I asked my girlfirend of 7 years, Caroline Ayinon, to marry to me. To which, she said “of course.” 
My second paper was accepted to the PLOS Computational Biology journal!
November 17, 2022
My paper titled “Role of path information in visual perception of joint stiffness” was accepted to the PLOS Computational Biology journal.
Participated in the NextProf Nexus for future faculty at UC Berkeley.
August 28, 2022
Participated in the NextProf Nexus for future faculty at UC Berkeley. It was a great experience and I learned alot about the faculty application process. I would highly recommend for anyone interested in pursuing a career in academia.
I was awarded the Takeda Fellowship for the 2022-2023 Academic Year!
June 15, 2022
The Takeda Fellowship Fund was established by Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited in 2020 and provides graduate student support to students conducting research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and health in the School of Engineering.
I presented at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2022!
May 27, 2022
I went to the city of brotherly love (Philadelphia,PA) to participate in the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2022. I presented both a poster and a talk titled “Dynamic Primitives Limit Human Force Regulation during Motion”.
I presented at the MIT Sports Summit.
March 03, 2022
As part of the MIT Sports Summit, I presented a poster titled “Dynamic Primitives Limit Human Force Regulation during Motion”.
My first paper just got accepted!
January 31, 2022
My paper titled “Dynamic Primitives Limit Human Force Regulation During Motion” was accepted to the Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L) journal and will be presented at the International Conference for Robotics and Automation 2022.
I was awarded the Ben Gold Fellowship for the 2021-2022 Academic Year!
June 28, 2021
The Ben Gold Fellowship Fund was established in 2020 and is awarded to a graduate student in the School of Engineering who not only has an outstanding academic record, exceptional background, and promising future but also has shown devotion to graduate and undergraduate level teaching.
I was awarded the Ford Foundation Fellowship!
April 13, 2020
Through its program of fellowships, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
I presented at the society for Neuroscience Conference
October 22, 2019
I went to Chicago,IL to participate in the Society for Neuroscience conference. Along with my colleague Meghan E. Huber, I presented a poster titled Visual Perception of Stiffness from Multi-Joint Limb Motion. This work was the precursor to my paper titled “Role of path information in visual perception of joint stiffness”.