About Me
The Elevator Pitch (if the elevator is really slow)
Hey there! 👋 I’m Jonathan Shulgach, a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University who spends an unreasonable amount of time thinking about how to make robots understand humans better. My research sits at the intersection of flexible electronics, wearable EMG sensing, and assistive robotics—basically, I’m trying to give people with spinal cord injuries and ALS the ability to control robotic devices using just their muscle signals.
When I’m not soldering tiny wires onto even tinier electrodes, you might find me 3D printing questionable prototypes, convincing undergraduate students that biomechanics is actually cool, or explaining to my family why I can’t just “make them a robot butler already.”
The Origin Story 🌍
I’m a first-generation American with roots stretching to Argentina 🇦🇷 and Ukraine 🇺🇦. Growing up between cultures taught me that the best solutions come from combining different perspectives—and that’s exactly how I approach engineering. My grandmother taught me to fix things with whatever’s available, and my curiosity led me from taking apart (and sometimes reassembling) household electronics to building systems that could one day help people regain independence.
Education 🎓
| Degree | Institution | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering | Carnegie Mellon University | 2021 – Present |
| M.S. Biomedical Engineering | Carnegie Mellon University | 2018 – 2019 |
| B.S. Mechanical Engineering | University of Maryland, Baltimore County | 2013 – 2016 |
| A.S. Mechanical Engineering & Physics | Harford Community College | 2011 – 2013 |
What I Actually Do (Research Edition)
🔬 High-Density EMG & Flexible Electronics
I design and fabricate wearable sensors that can pick up electrical signals from muscles with crazy precision. Think 128 electrodes wrapped around your forearm, all on a flexible PCB that bends with your body. We’re talking sci-fi levels of sensing.
🦾 Assistive Robotics
My end goal? Give people with neuromuscular conditions the ability to control robotic hands, exoskeletons, and assistive devices using their remaining muscle function. Every twitch counts.
🎮 Human-Machine Interfaces
I work on the algorithms that translate EMG signals into robot commands. It’s like building a translator between your brain’s intentions and a robot’s actions—except the language is voltage.
The Fun Stuff 🎨
When I manage to escape the lab, here’s what I’m probably doing:
- 🎬 Film Crew: Yes, that IMDB link is real! I’ve worked on film sets as an electrician and grip. Hollywood meets engineering.
- 🖼️ 3D Animation: Blender is my creative outlet. There’s something therapeutic about rigging a character after debugging sensor firmware all day.
- 🤖 FIRST Robotics Mentor: Co-founded the Baltimore Bolts FRC team. Watching high schoolers build competition robots is peak serotonin.
- 📣 STEM Outreach: National Biomechanics Day organizer, DEI Champion, and general enthusiast for getting kids excited about science.
Honors & Awards 🏆
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 🏆 CMU Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition – Finalist |
| 2025 | 🎓 CMU Graduate Conference Travel Fellowship |
| 2022 | 🎤 Northeastern Maryland Technology Council – Keynote Speaker |
| 2021 | 🏅 DARPA Research Contributor Recognition |
| 2019 | 💡 CMU Design Competition – Most Innovative Project (“Flexi-Luminaire”) |
| 2016 | 🎓 UMBC Honors College Graduate |
Quirky Facts
- ☕ Coffee consumption: Approximately 3.2 cups/day (measured with scientific precision)
- 🎸 Attempted to learn guitar three times. The guitar won.
- 🦥 My spirit animal is a sloth (see photo with my friend)
- 🧩 I believe every engineering problem is just a puzzle waiting to be solved
- 🌶️ I put hot sauce on everything. Everything.
Let’s Collaborate!
I’m always excited to connect with fellow researchers, students, makers, and anyone curious about the future of human-machine interfaces. Whether you want to discuss research, collaborate on a project, or debate the best 3D printing filament, reach out!
The Sloth Photo 🦥
Yes, this is me. Yes, I peaked here.