PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Jessica K Hodgins

Also known as Jessica Hodgins, Jessica K. Hodgins

Jessica K Hodgins is a Carnegie Mellon professor whose work spans character animation, human simulation and humanoid robotics. She earned a Yale mathematics degree and a computer-science PhD at Carnegie Mellon in 1989. In 2008 she joined Disney Research and founded its Pittsburgh lab, where much of her research focused on motion capture and computer animation. In 2017 ACM SIGGRAPH elected her president, and in July 2018 she took a part-time role with Facebook AI Research. As of October 2026, she is VP, Research at the RAI Institute, which she joined in 2022.

Timeline

  1. 1989

    A doctorate from Carnegie Mellon

    Carnegie Mellon grants her a PhD in computer science in 1989, after a Yale mathematics degree.

  2. 1998–2000

    Georgia Tech, then Carnegie Mellon

    She serves as associate professor and assistant dean in Georgia Tech's College of Computing from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, Carnegie Mellon makes her a professor.

  3. 2008

    A Disney Research lab in Pittsburgh

    In 2008 she joins Disney Research and founds its Pittsburgh lab, where much of her research focuses on motion capture and computer animation.

  4. 2017

    SIGGRAPH presidency and a Coons Award

    She is elected president of ACM SIGGRAPH in 2017. SIGGRAPH also names her the 2017 recipient of its Steven Anson Coons Award.

  5. 2018

    ACM fellow and Facebook lab

    The ACM names her a fellow in 2018 for character animation, human simulation and humanoid robotics. In July 2018 she takes a part-time role with Facebook AI Research while keeping her CMU duties.

  6. May 2020

    University Professor at CMU

    Carnegie Mellon names her one of four University Professors in May 2020.

  7. 2022

    Joining the RAI Institute

    In 2022 the RAI Institute adds her as vice president for strategic projects and research.

  8. As of October 2026

    Vice president at RAI Institute

    At the RAI Institute, she is VP, Research, overseeing strategic projects and supporting research teams in foundation models, data capture, ethics and society, and humanoids.

Sources and credits

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  1. Jessica Hodgins - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Hodgins Named 2018 ACM Fellow | Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Department csd.cmu.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Hodgins Elected President of SIGGRAPH - News - Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Hodgins, Gupta Join Facebook AI Research - News - Carnegie Mellon University cmu.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Four SCS Faculty Members Named University Professors cs.cmu.edu. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Jessica Hodgins | RAI Institute rai-inst.com. Checked 14 October 2026.