Main Page: Difference between revisions

← Older edit

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 15:27, 13 June 2026

Richard M. Murray

Thomas E. and Doris Everhart Professor of
Control & Dynamical Systems and Bioengineering

California Institute of Technology

Quick Links:

Feedback Systems
python-control
SynCell wiki

Note: I am currently sabbatical through Dec 2026, and I am not starting any new students or postdocs in my group nor hosting visitors or SURF students during this time. If you are interested in the work we are doing in my group, I encourage you to take a look at some of my collaborators at Caltech.

Research

My group's research is in the application of feedback and control to networked systems, with applications in biology and autonomy. Current projects include design and implementation of synthetic cells and verification and testing of safety-critical systems (see my research overview for more details).

Preprint archive
Caltech theses
Google Scholar

Active projects:

Developer Cell: A modular, extensible chassis for building synthetic cells (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation)
Design and Implementation of Multi-Component Synthetic Cells (ARO/ICB)
Center for Harnessing Microbiota from Military Environments (CHARMME) (ARO)
Layered T&E for Safety-Critical Autonomous Systems (AFOSR)
Rules of Composition in Synthetic Biology Across Scales of Complexity: Theory and Tools (AFOSR)

[Archive]

Group

Sal Ibarra* (BE)

Leo Li* (CNS)

Nikos Mynhier* (BE)

Miki Yun# (EAS)

Han Zhang* (BE)

* co-advised students + visiting researchers ° rotation students † undergraduates # research staff

Former graduate students:

Zach Martinez* - PhD in Bioengineering, May 2026
Matthieu Kratz - PhD in Bioengineering, Oct 2025

Ania Baetica (thesis)

Julia Badger (Braman) (thesis)

Apurva Badithela (thesis)

Dionysios Barmpoutis (thesis)

Robert Behnken (thesis)

Robert Bodenheimer

Francesco Bullo (thesis)

Karena Cai (thesis)

John Carson (thesis)

Andrea Censi (thesis)

Richard Cheng* (thesis)

Samuel Clamons (thesis)

Benson Christalin#

Tim Chung*

Lars Cremean (thesis)

Nadine Dabby*

Raff D'Andrea*

Sumanth Dathathri (thesis)

Samantha (Feakins) Daly#

Emzo de los Santos (thesis)

Domitilla Del Vecchio (thesis)

Mary Dunlop (thesis)

William Dunbar (thesis)

Michael Epstein (thesis)

Alex Fax (thesis)

Ioannis Filippidis (thesis)

Anthony Fragoso (thesis)

Sawyer Fuller

Melvin Flores (thesis)

Elisa Franco (thesis)

Jimmy Fung (thesis)

Marcella Gomez (thesis)

Martha Grover (Gallivan) (thesis)

Shaobin Guo (thesis)

Vijay Gupta (thesis)

Sonja Glavaski*

Josefine Graebener (thesis)

Shuo Han (thesis)

Adam Hayes*

Sean Humbert (thesis)

Victoria Hsiao (thesis)

Ali Jadbabaie* (thesis)

Zhipu Jin (thesis)

Vanessa Jonsson (thesis)

Zoila Jurado (thesis)

Manisha Kapasiawala (thesis)

Scott Kelly (thesis)

Dmitriy Kogan#

Elin Larsson (thesis)

Javad Lavaei* (thesis)

Andrew Lewis (thesis)

Scott Livingston (thesis)

Ioannis Mandralis (thesis)

John Marken (thesis)

Reed McCardell (thesis)

Robert M'Closkey (thesis)

Joseph Meyerowitz (thesis)

Mark Milam (thesis)

Blade Olson

Ayush Pandey (thesis)

Ivan Papusha (thesis)

James Parkin (thesis)

Tung Phan (thesis)

William Poole (thesis)

Muruhan Rathinam (thesis)

Xinying (Cindy) Ren (thesis)

Clancy Rowley*

Ben Shapiro (thesis)

Ling Shi (thesis)

Andrey Shur (thesis)

Vipul Singhal (thesis)

Demetri Spanos (thesis)

Zachary Sun (thesis)

Sudipto Sur (thesis)

Anandh Swaminathan (thesis)

Anu Thubagere* (thesis)

Amber Thweatt#

Jorge Tierno*

Abhishek Tiwari (thesis)

Pete Trautman (thesis)

Stephanie Tsuei#

David van Gogh#

Tony Vanelli# (thesis)

Ophelia Venturelli (thesis)

Yong Wang (thesis)

Steve Waydo* (thesis)

Rory Williams (thesis)

Eric Wolff (thesis)

Nok Wongpiromsarn (thesis)

Yong Wu (thesis)

Huan (Mumu) Xu (thesis)

Enoch Yeung (thesis)

Simon Yeung (thesis)

# Masters or Engineers degree * Co-advised student

Former postdocs:

Kazu Echigo (2025) - CMS Postdoctoral Fellow
Yan Zhang (2022-24) - Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow

Raktim Bhattacharya (2002-04)

Brianno Coller (1995-97)

Ersin Das (2021-22)

Noel du Toit (2011)

Chuchu Fan (2019-20)

Samira Farahani (2014-15)

David Garcia (2020-21)

Jin Ge (2016-18)

Leopold Green (2018-21)

Sofie Haesaert (2016-18)

Yutaka Hori (2013-16)

Chelsea Hu (2018-22)

Tamer Inanc (2002-04)

Inigo Incer (2022-24)

Jongmin Kim (2010-14)

Eric Klavins* (2001-03)

Feng-Li Lian (2001-02)

Jun Liu (2011-2012)

Michaelle Mayalu (2017-22)

Catherine McGhan (2014-16)

John McManus* (2018-19)

Yilin Mo (2013-15)

Kristi Morgansen (1999-2001)

Pascal Morin (1996-97)

Yasamin Mostofi (2004-06)

Reza Olfati-Saber (2001-04)

Yizhar Or (2007-09)

Necmiye Ozay (2010-13)

Pavithra Prabhakar (2011-12)

Nicolas Petit (2001-02)

Vasu Raman (2013-15)

Henrik Sandberg (2005-07)

Shaunak Sen (2011-12)

B. N. Shashikanth* (1998-2000)

Dan Siegal (2012-15)

Andrew Straw* (2010)

Willem Sluis (1994-96)

Herbert Streumper (1997-99)

Ufuk Topcu (2008-12)

Additional group alumni: SURF Undergrads Visitors

Teaching

The list below is the courses that I have taught at Caltech (or at least most of them). The course links will take you to the (current) course homepage, where you can find the syllabus, handouts, and homework sets. The links for specific terms take you to the course homepage for that term. Links to older courses are available on a separate page.

ACM/EE 116 - Probability and Random Processes (Fa11)
BE 107 - Exploring Biological Principles Through Bio-Inspired Design (Sp15, Sp16, Sp19)
BE 150/Bi 250b - Systems Biology (Wi11, Wi12, Wi13, Sp14)
BE/EE/MedE 189a - Design and Construction of Biodevices (Fa24)
Bi/BE/CS 183 - Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinformatics (Wi24)
CS/EE/ME 75 - Introduction to Multi-Disciplinary Systems Engineering (04-05, 06-07, 10-11, 15-16)
CDS 90 - Senior Thesis in Control and Dynamical Systems (2004-2014, 2020-2024)
CDS 101/110 - Analysis and Design of Feedback Systems (Fa97, Fa01, Fa02, Fa03, Fa04, Fa06, Fa07, Fa08, Fa12, Fa15, Sp24)
CDS 112 - Optimization-Based Control (Wi98, Wi02, Wi03, Wi04, Wi06, Wi07, Wi08, Wi22, Wi23)
CDS 131 - Linear Systems Theory (Fa18, Fa19, Fa20)
CDS 140 - Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems (Wi11, Wi13, Wi14, Wi15)
CDS 240 - Nonlinear Dynamical Systems (Sp14, Sp16)
CDS 202 - Geometry of Nonlinear Systems (Wi93, Wi94, Wi04, Wi09, Sp13)
CS 142 - Distributed Computing (Fa17, Fa19)
CS 143 - Communication Networks (Fa18)
CMS 273 - Frontiers in Computing and Mathematical Sciences (Wi19, Wi20, Wi21)
E/SEC 103 - Management of Technology (Sp20, Sp23, Wi24, Wi25)
Older courses (not taught in the last 15 years)
Guest lectures - some individual lectures I have given in various courses

Contact

Mailing Address Richard M. Murray Control and Dynamical Systems 107-81 California Institute of Technology 1200 E. California Blvd Pasadena, CA 91125 USA	Contact information E-mail: murray@cds.caltech.edu Office: 109 Steele Lab, (626) 395-6460 Asst: Nuvia Alvarez, x2464 Labs: 108, 116, 136 Keck
Other links Caltech Engineering and Applied Science Computing and Mathematical Sciences	Bioengineering Control and Dynamical Systems LinkedIn

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 Quick Links:
-[[Group Schedule]] <br>
+<!-- [[Group Schedule]] <br> -->
-[[BE/EE/MedE 189a, Fall 2024|BE/EE/MedE 189a]] <br>
+<!-- [[E/SEC 103, Winter 2025|E/SEC 103]] <br> -->
 [https://fbswiki.org/wiki/index.php/Feedback_Systems:_An_Introduction_for_Scientists_and_Engineers ''Feedback Systems''] <br>
-[[http:python-control.org|python-control]]
+[[http:python-control.org|python-control]] <br>
+[[http:syncellwiki.org|SynCell wiki]]
 <!-- [https://fbswiki.org/wiki/index.php/Biomolecular_Feedback_Systems ''Biomolecular Feedback Systems''] -->
 </td>
@@ Line 39: / Line 40: @@
 * Caltech [[http:www.its.caltech.edu/~bi/fellows.html|Beckman Fellows program]] - applications due early January
 -->
-'''Interested students, postdocs, and visitors''': I am currently planning to be on sabbatical from Jan 2025 through Dec 2026 and I am not starting any new students or postdocs in my group nor hosting visitors or SURF students during this time.  If you are interested in the work we are doing in my group, I encourage you to take a look at some of my [[Collaborators|collaborators at Caltech]].
+'''Note: I am currently sabbatical through Dec 2026''', and I am not starting any new students or postdocs in my group nor hosting visitors or SURF students during this time.  If you are interested in the work we are doing in my group, I encourage you to take a look at some of my [[Collaborators|collaborators at Caltech]].
 == Research ==
 My group's research is in the application of feedback and control to networked systems, with applications in biology and autonomy.  Current projects include design and implementation of synthetic cells and verification and testing of safety-critical systems (see my [[Research Overview|research overview]] for more details).
@@ Line 67: / Line 68: @@
 | width=33% |
 {|
-{{group entry|Layla Adeli†|BE}}
-{{group entry|[[http:david-c-garcia.github.io/|David Garcia]]+|Army DevCom}}
-{{group entry|Josefine Graebener|AE}}
 {{group entry|Sal Ibarra*|BE}}
-{{group entry|[[http:da-johnson.github.io|Alex Johnson*]]|BE}}
+{{group entry|Leo Li*|CNS}}
-{{group entry|Zoila Jurado|CMS}}
-{{group entry|Manisha Kapasiawala|BE}}
 |}
 | width=33% |
 {|
-{{group entry|Matthieu Kratz*|BE}}
-{{group entry|Elin Larsson*|BE}}
+{{group entry|Nikos Mynhier*|BE}}
-{{group entry|Trinity Lee†|BE}}
+{{group entry|Miki Yun#|EAS}}
-{{group entry|Leo Li*|CNS}}
-{{group entry|Ioannis Mandralis*|AE}}
-{{group entry|Zach Martinez*|BE}}
-{{group entry|Kellan Moorse|CNS}}
 |}
 | width=33% |
 {|
-{{group entry|Nikos Mynhier*|BE}}
-{{group entry|Blade Olson*|BE}}
-{{group entry|Mark Prator#|EAS}}
-{{group entry|Olivia Wang†|BE}}
-{{group entry|Miki Yun#|EAS}}
 {{group entry|Han Zhang*|BE}}
 |}
@@ Line 102: / Line 89: @@
 |}
 </font>
-<!-- 1 MS student; 2 PhD students (+10 joint); 2 postdocs -->
+<!-- 0 MS student; 0 PhD students (+5 joint); 0 postdoc -->
 </blockquote>
 ==== Former graduate students: ====
-<!-- 83 PhD students (70 primary; 13 joint); 40 postdocs (incl. 1 visiting); 7 MS students -->
+<!-- 87 PhD students (72 primary; 15 joint); 41 postdocs (incl. 1 visiting); 7 MS students -->
+* Zach Martinez* - PhD in Bioengineering, May 2026
+* Matthieu Kratz - PhD in Bioengineering, Oct 2025
 <blockquote>
@@ Line 143: / Line 133: @@
 {{PhD alum|Melvin Flores |thesis=CaltechETD:etd-02192008-153449}}
 {{PhD alum|Elisa Franco |url=http:samueli.ucla.edu/people/elisa-franco/ |option= |completed= |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:10192011-161454857}}
+{{PhD alum|Jimmy Fung |url=http:www.cds.caltech.edu/~fung |thesis=05272005-165938}}
 </table>
   | width=33% |
 <table>
-{{PhD alum|Jimmy Fung |url=http:www.cds.caltech.edu/~fung |thesis=05272005-165938}}
 {{PhD alum| Marcella Gomez | url=http:caltech.academia.edu/MarcellaGomez | option=CDS | completed= | thesis=CaltechTHESIS:08282014-165029252}}
 {{PhD alum|Martha Grover (Gallivan) | url=http:grover.chbe.gatech.edu | thesis=CaltechETD:etd-10222002-115711}}
@@ Line 161: / Line 151: @@
 {{PhD alum|Vanessa Jonsson |option= |completed= |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:10132015-121212703}}
 {{PhD alum|Zoila Jurado|option=Mechanical Engineering|completed=May 2024|thesis=CaltechTHESIS:06032024-141219249|url=http:www.linkedin.com/in/zoila-jurado-93005b83/}}
+{{PhD alum|Manisha Kapasiawala|option=Bioengineering|completed=Aug 2025|url=http:www.linkedin.com/in/manisha-kapasiawala/|thesis_doi= 10.7907/zfhy-bk03}}
 {{PhD alum|Scott Kelly |url=http:www.coe.uncc.edu/~skelly52/ |thesis=CaltechETD:etd-08122005-152639}}
-{{PhD alum|Dmitriy Kogan# |url=http:www.linkedin.com/pub/1/446/a84 }}
+{{PhD alum|Dmitriy Kogan# |url=http:www.linkedin.com/pub/1/446/a84}}
+{{PhD alum|Elin Larsson|option=Bioengineering|completed=May 2025|thesis_doi=10.7907/m077-7633|url=http:www.linkedin.com/in/elin-m-larsson/}}
 {{PhD alum|Javad Lavaei* |url=http:www.ee.columbia.edu/~lavaei |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:05132011-113642762}}
 {{PhD alum|Andrew Lewis |url=http:www.mast.queensu.ca/~andrew/ |thesis=CaltechETD:etd-07132006-143133}}
 {{PhD alum|[[http:scottman.net/ |Scott Livingston]] |option=CDS |completed=Dec 2015 |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:12312015-131513787}}
+{{PhD alum|Ioannis Mandralis|option=Aerospace|completed=Oct 2025|url=http:mandralis.github.io/|thesis_doi=10.7907/srg8-sx98}}
 {{PhD alum|[[http:jpmarken.github.io/|John Marken]] |option=BE|completed=May 2023|thesis=CaltechTHESIS:05292023-181810775}}
 {{PhD alum|Reed McCardell |option=BE |completed=May 2021 |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:05082021-185615529}}
@@ Line 171: / Line 164: @@
 {{PhD alum|Joseph Meyerowitz|option=BMB|completed=Dec 2022|thesis=CaltechTHESIS:12022022-073109279}}
 {{PhD alum|Mark Milam |url=http:www.cds.caltech.edu/~milam/ |thesis=CaltechETD:etd-06022003-114340}}
-{{PhD alum|Michiel van Nieuwstadt |thesis=CaltechETD:etd-01172008-085534}}
+{{PhD alum|Blade Olson|option=BE|completed=Aug 2025}}
 {{PhD alum|Ayush Pandey |option=CDS |completed=Jun 2023 |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:06062023-021337351|url=http:ayush-pandey.github.io}}
 {{PhD alum|Ivan Papusha |option= |completed= |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:06032016-102336160}}
 {{PhD alum|James Parkin |option=BE |completed=Mar 2021 |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:03262021-160841703}}
-{{PhD alum|Tung Phan |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:01132021-065636010}}
 </table>
   | width=33% |
 <table>
+{{PhD alum|Tung Phan |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:01132021-065636010}}
 {{PhD alum|William Poole |option=CNS |completed=Aug 2021 |thesis=CaltechTHESIS:11102021-210013472}}
 {{PhD alum|Muruhan Rathinam | url=http:www.math.umbc.edu/~muruhan/ | thesis=CaltechETD:etd-01152008-082733}}
@@ Line 215: / Line 208: @@
 ==== Former postdocs: ====
+* Kazu Echigo (2025) - CMS Postdoctoral Fellow
 * [[http:yzhang952.github.io|Yan Zhang]] (2022-24) - Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
-* Inigo Incer (2022-24) - CMS Postdoctoral Fellow
-* Chelsea Hu (2018-22) - BE Postdoctoral Fellow
-* Ersin Das (2021-22) - CMS Postdoctoral Fellow
 <blockquote>
@@ Line 227: / Line 218: @@
 {{Postdoc alum|Raktim Bhattacharya|years=2002-04}}
 <tr><td>[http://www.niu.edu/faculty/coller.shtml Brianno Coller] (1995-97) </td></tr>
+{{Postdoc alum|Ersin Das|years=2021-22|title=CMS Postdoctoral Fellow|url=http:www.linkedin.com/in/ersin-da%C5%9F-396a29135/}}
 <tr><td>Noel du Toit (2011)</td></tr>
 {{Postdoc alum|Chuchu Fan|years=2019-20|title=CMS Postdoctoral Fellow}}
@@ Line 235: / Line 227: @@
 <tr><td>Sofie Haesaert (2016-18) </td></tr>
 <tr><td>Yutaka Hori (2013-16) </td></tr>
+{{Postdoc alum|Chelsea Hu|years=2018-22|title=BE Postdoctoral Fellow|url=http:www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-y-hu/}}
 <tr><td>[http://www.ece.louisville.edu/~t0inan01/ Tamer Inanc] (2002-04)</td></tr>
-<tr><td>Jongmin Kim (2010-14)</td></tr>
 </table>
 | width=33% |
 <table>
+{{Postdoc alum|Inigo Incer|years=2022-24|title=CMS Postdoctoral Fellow|url=http:iincer.github.io/}}
+<tr><td>Jongmin Kim (2010-14)</td></tr>
 <tr><td>[http://soslab.ee.washington.edu/mw/index.php/User:Klavins Eric Klavins]* (2001-03)</td></tr>
 <tr><td>[http://cc.ee.ntu.edu.tw/~fengli/ Feng-Li Lian] (2001-02)</td></tr>
@@ Line 251: / Line 245: @@
 <tr><td>[http://www.ece.ucsb.edu/~ymostofi/ Yasamin Mostofi] (2004-06)</td></tr>
 <tr><td>Reza Olfati-Saber (2001-04)</td></tr>
-<tr><td>[http://www.cds.caltech.edu/~izi/ Yizhar Or] (2007-09)</td></tr>
 </table>
 | width=33% |
 <table>
+<tr><td>[http://www.cds.caltech.edu/~izi/ Yizhar Or] (2007-09)</td></tr>
 <tr><td>Necmiye Ozay (2010-13)</td></tr>
 <tr><td>Pavithra Prabhakar (2011-12)</td></tr>
@@ Line 294: / Line 288: @@
 * CS 143 - Communication Networks ([http://courses.cms.caltech.edu/cs143/ Fa18])
 * [[CMS 273]] - Frontiers in Computing and Mathematical Sciences ([[CMS 273, Winter 2019|Wi19]], [[CMS 273, Winter 2020|Wi20]], [[CMS 273, Winter 2021|Wi21]])
-* [[E/SEC 103]] - Management of Technology ([[E/SEC 103, Spring 2020|Sp20]], [[E/SEC 103, Spring 2023|Sp23]], [[E/SEC 103, Winter 2024|Wi24]])
+* [[E/SEC 103]] - Management of Technology ([[E/SEC 103, Spring 2020|Sp20]], [[E/SEC 103, Spring 2023|Sp23]], [[E/SEC 103, Winter 2024|Wi24]], [[E/SEC 103, Winter 2025|Wi25]])
 * [[Courses#Older_courses_(not_on_this_wiki)|Older courses]] (not taught in the last 15 years)
 * [[:Category:Guest lectures|Guest lectures]] - some individual lectures I have given in various courses

Main Page: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:27, 13 June 2026

Research

Group

Former graduate students:

Former postdocs:

Teaching

Contact

Mailing Address

Contact information

Other links

Navigation menu

Page actions

Page actions

Personal tools

Navigation

Search

Tools