About Karen
Dr. Karen Panetta is the Dean of Graduate Education for the School of Engineering and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Tufts University. She is a prolific inventor changing lives through her pioneering approaches to solve society’s greatest challenges using technology.
She was a computer engineer for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) where her algorithms played an instrumental role in developing the first complete digital twin of a CPU design capable of running software programs that have redefined semi-conductor manufacturing and test processes and led the way for other complex system simulations to be possible.
Her team has created the world’s first and foremost image recognition database comprising of 7 image modalities of individuals from around the world, ages 4-73. This allows researchers to benchmark their algorithms across many different image typesincluding visible, near-infrared, thermal, computerized sketch, LYTRO, recorded video, and 3D images. It also includes various orientations, facial expressions and includes faces with masks. The database is helping researchers and companies understand and reveal bias in their Artificial Intelligence(AI)/Machine Learning(ML) applications.
While the world moves to using AI in every facet of education, business, health, communication and manufacturing, Karen’s work builds the fundamental tools to help researchers better train and validate their systems through robust quantifiable metrics and robust computer vision algorithms.
Her pioneering work in computer vision has enabled autonomous systems to best visually present images to humans to better help humans perceive complex information, whether in open-air, under water or in space. Her technologies have been deployed to keep us safe, healthy and to protect endangered species.
She has been called a “Rock Star of Engineering and Science” and the “Princess Warrior” of engineering and science education for her work championing young women to embrace their creative talents and brainpower to innovate cool technology that has the power to improve lives.
As the founder of the international Nerd Girls program, Karen has conducted engineering outreach activities with more than 85,000 children, parents, and educators, and she has been recognized for her unwavering commitment to promoting the image of the “Nerd Girl” as a talented, well-rounded woman who can take on any challenge to solve real-world problems.
She is the Vice-President of the IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society and the 2021 IEEE Awards Board Chair. She is the 2019 IEEE-HKN (Eta Kappa Nu) President. Karen was the 2014 IEEE-USA Vice President of Communications and Public Awareness, and is the current editor-in-chief of the IEEE WIE Magazine and an active IEEE Fellow. In her capacity as the past Worldwide Director of IEEE Women in Engineering, she has traveled around the world interacting with youth and their families. From these experiences, Karen and her students have used their engineering skills to develop technology to help improve the lives of autistic children and their families, as well as information systems that have helped governments identify root factors in autism and blindness in children. In the U.S., Karen and her Nerd Girls have saved a National Historic Landmark using solar energy technology, while ensuring the safety of the wildlife that call the site of the landmark “home.” The Department of Energy has described Karen and her enthusiasm for promoting clean and green energy as “Renewable Energy in High Heels.”
She designed the App-E-Feat humanitarian challenge for engineers for the Clinton Global Initiative and is the host of the web shows: “Nerd Girl Nation” and “Ask Dr. Karen,” in which she answered questions from students, parents, and educators from around the world about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. She was the STEM Advisor to Joyce Banda, the former president of Malawi.
Karen has a B.S. in computer engineering from Boston University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Northeastern University. She was the first woman engineer granted tenure in the Tufts University School of Engineering, and she has received several awards for outstanding teaching and mentoring as well as creative curriculum development and outreach activities. In 2011, President Obama awarded her the nation’s highest award for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering education and mentoring, and in 2009 she was awarded the Norm Augustine Award for communicating the wonders of engineering to the public. Karen is also the recipient of several NASA and National Science Foundation research grants, including the NSF CAREER Award.
