Her Story
About Maegan
Maegan Tucker serves as an Assistant Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, entering her third year in the role. She completed her undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech and earned her PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Caltech. Tucker has a strong passion for research, mentorship, and innovation, which drew her back to academia after exploring industry and other research labs. Her work centers on wearable robotic assistive devices, with publications that have had widespread influence in the field, including one that received a triennial Best Paper award. She teaches an undergraduate introduction to robotics course and a graduate-level nonlinear control theory class. Tucker is a member of IEEE and collaborates with the Shepherd Center, a local rehabilitation hospital, on experiments. She attributes her success to being in the right place at the right time and maintaining a strong social network, emphasizing genuine connections and the value of empathy in her work with students.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maegan
01What do you attribute your success to?
Being in the right place at the right time and having a good social network. Success often stems from good connections and relationships with people, and doing good into the world comes back in unexpected ways. It's important to make genuine connections organically rather than networking just because you have to.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Put blinders on and focus on your own goals to avoid distraction and comparison, especially with social media. It's not a zero-sum game; want peers to succeed because then you have successful peers who can help you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be intimidated. It's easy to feel like you don't belong when you're the only woman in the room, but don't let that make you think it isn't for you. Representation is growing.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenge is funding, with changes in how research is funded and reduced enrollment numbers. Opportunity is the growing role that industry is playing in robotics, moving from predominantly research space to industry adoption in exciting ways.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy. Remember that you were in someone else's shoes once, especially as a professor with students. Lead with empathy and general understanding that people are trying their best.
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