Martha R. Grabowski is an alumna and longtime Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. She is also the McDevitt Distinguished Chair in Information Systems; Director of the Poland Center for Research and Teaching Innovation; and Professor and Director of the Information Systems program in the Madden College of Business & Economics at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York.
Dr. Grabowski's research focuses on the impact of technology on individuals, groups and organizations in complex, safety-critical systems. Her current research focuses on (1) using advanced data analytics and visualizations with large-scale data sets to assess safety and environmental security; (2) exploring the impact of multimodal wearable augmented reality displays on operator performance, communication, situation awareness and mobility in safety-critical systems, including navigation on the Staten Island Ferry; (3) assessing the impact of autonomous uncrewed aerial systems (UAS, drones) on communication, logistics and emergency response systems in healthcare logistics, supply chains, manufacturing, Arctic search and rescue, and in infrastructure-poor settings; and (4) modeling and analyzing the effects of communications, infrastructure, technology and climate changes on emergency response and mass rescue capabilities in the Arctic.
Dr. Grabowski has been associated with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) for 30 years, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2024. She completed two tours as Chair of the National Academies' Transportation Research Board (TRB)/Marine Board, and has chaired or served on ten NASEM studies, most recently (2023) serving on the National Academies committee studying U.S. Coast Guard statutory authorities in light of new and emerging maritime challenges, including autonomous vessels, interactions with commercial space launch and recovery operations, aquaculture, offshore energy systems, fishing, migration and cybersecurity. She testified before Congress in December 2022 regarding the U.S. Coast Guard's needs in Arctic safety, security and environmental responsibility and in 2021, she received the W.N. Carey, Jr. Distinguished Service Award from the TRB. She is a member of the American Bureau of Shipping; a Lifetime National Associate of the National Academies; and a member of the City of Syracuse (NY)’s Surveillance Technology Task Force.
Dr. Grabowski is widely published, and is the author and/or co-author of four books, 59 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 38 peer-reviewed conference proceedings; she has given many invited keynote addresses and presentations; has multiple media appearances and downloads; and has testified before Congress on topics pertaining to safety-critical systems, disaster management; technology warning systems; maritime transportation, safety and environmental security. Her patents and patent applications center on the integration and use of advanced technology, including wearable augmented reality devices, uncrewed aerial systems, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, in safety- and mission-critical applications.
Dr. Grabowski is a licensed former merchant marine officer and retired Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. She received a B.S. in Marine Transportation/Nautical Science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and an M.B.A., an M.S., Industrial Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Management/ Information Systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
A list of the newly-elected members is available via the National Academy of Engineering website.
