UT Professor Lynne Parker has been selected as a 2018 American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow for her work as a leading researcher in robotics and for her distinguished professional service.

Parker, a member of the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is now the 32nd faculty member at UT so honored, and the 10th from the Tickle College of Engineering.

“It’s always nice to be honored, especially when it comes from your peers in science and engineering,” said Parker, who is already an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Fellow. “This is validation, not just on a personal level, but on the growing importance of my chosen field of research.”

In her selection, the AAAS noted her “foundational contributions to distributed robotics and for distinguished service and accomplishment to professional societies and administration in government.”

As a sign of her leadership in the emerging field of artificial intelligence, she is currently serving as assistant director for artificial intelligence for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

In that role, she is the White House lead for AI policy and engages with numerous stakeholders in areas of importance to the leadership of the United States in AI, including research and development priorities and coordination, budgetary matters, advancing AI infrastructure, education and workforce initiatives, advancing AI innovation, national security and defense considerations of AI, and international activities in AI.

“AI is a topic of intense national and international attention, and the world is looking to the United States to provide leadership,” Parker said at the time of her appointment. “The opportunity to help lead the nation in an area that has such national and international importance, and which has been the focus of my career, is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. I am honored to be asked to serve the nation in this manner.”

Parker also previously served as Division Director for Information and Intelligent Systems at the National Science Foundation, further demonstrating her leadership in shaping the nation’s artificial intelligence capabilities.

During her time at UT, Parker founded the Distributed Intelligence Laboratory and the Center for Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning, served as associate department head, associate dean for faculty affairs and engagement, and most recently was interim dean before being named to her new role in Washington, DC.

She remains affiliated with UT thanks to the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, which allows the temporary assignment of personnel to the federal government from universities.