February 13, 2026
By Tracie Troha

Three George W.  Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering faculty members have been awarded endowed professorships, effective January 1, 2026. The recipients are:

• Karim Sabra, professor, awarded a Woodruff Professorship
• Gregory Sawicki, professor and Joseph Anderer Faculty Fellow, awarded a Woodruff Professorship
• Jun Ueda, professor, awarded the Harris Saunders, Jr. Professorship

These appointments recognize each faculty member for their exceptional research achievements, leadership in their fields, and meaningful contributions to Georgia Tech and the Woodruff School.

Each faculty member will hold their professorship for a five-year term and receive discretionary funding to support their students and pursue activities that strengthen the School’s culture and strategic priorities. These professorships are made possible through the generosity of the families of Georgia Tech alumni Harris Saunders, Jr. and George W. Woodruff.

“We are fortunate to have faculty of such caliber, and I could not have asked for a more outstanding group for this endowed professorship search,” said Shreyes Melkote, Morris M. Bryan, Jr. Professor and former interim school chair.

About the Research

Sabra's research is centered on underwater acoustics and signal processing with a focus on developing methodologies for ocean exploration and remote sensing using autonomous vehicles.

Sawicki’s research is focused on designing lower-limb robotic devices that improve mobility for both healthy and impaired individuals.

Ueda’s research is focused on developing advanced robotic and mechatronic systems for human-robot interaction, integrating bio-inspired design and human modeling to advance healthcare applications and resilient motion control theory.