Nigerian woman makes history, becomes first black woman to earn PhD in robotics at University of Michigan

Dr. Oluwami “Wami” Dosunmu-Ogunbi

USA: Nigerian-born roboticist Oluwami “Wami” Dosunmu-Ogunbi has secured a place in the history of American engineering after becoming the first Black woman to earn a PhD in Robotics from the University of Michigan.

Her milestone, achieved in 2024, was more than a personal academic triumph. It marked a breakthrough in a field where Black women remain significantly underrepresented and placed a daughter of Nigerian immigrants at the centre of a growing conversation about diversity, access and inclusion in advanced technology.

The University of Michigan confirmed Dosunmu-Ogunbi’s historic achievement as she graduated after completing research focused on bipedal robotic locomotion. Her doctoral work explored how walking robots could navigate challenging environments, including stairs and other non-flat surfaces.

But the road to the historic degree was not without setbacks.

Dosunmu-Ogunbi initially entered the University of Michigan’s mechanical engineering PhD programme before failing her qualifying examinations. Rather than abandon the goal, she transitioned into the university’s Robotics programme and eventually completed her doctorate. Michigan Engineering reported that she finished the Robotics PhD in four years, developing a stair-climbing controller for bipedal robots as a major part of her research.

Her story is therefore not simply one of academic brilliance, but also persistence in the face of failure.

At her graduation ceremony, she acknowledged that her achievement was never a solo accomplishment.

“I do not stand here on my own two feet alone. None of us got here by our individual merit alone, whether it be teacher, friends, family, mentors, or role models, we each have one or multiple people to whom we are grateful for making this moment possible.”

She also made clear that she wanted her historic position to mean something beyond the title attached to her degree.

“I want to have a positive impact on the world,” she said, while describing the kind of engineer she hoped to become.

Dr. Oluwami “Wami” Dosunmu-Ogunbi, first black woman to earn a PhD in  robotics at University of Michigan

Her research has already produced practical contributions to the field. During her doctoral work, Dosunmu-Ogunbi worked on control systems for bipedal robots, including technology that enabled the Cassie robot to demonstrate walking on a moving walkway. Her published research also examined robotic movement across difficult terrain and stair-climbing applications.

Beyond the laboratory, she has built a reputation as a mentor and advocate for greater inclusion in engineering. At Michigan, she received the MLK Spirit Award for Mentoring and Inspiration and was involved in robotics outreach for several years.

Her journey has continued beyond Michigan. Dosunmu-Ogunbi is now an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ohio Northern University, where her work spans robotics, controls, bipedal locomotion and engineering education. She is also developing educational approaches designed to make robotics more accessible to students.

And in 2026, her work has taken her back into the global robotics conversation. She delivered a keynote at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Vienna on teaching core robotics concepts through her Biped Bootcamp, further extending her work in robotics education and inclusion.

For Nigeria and the wider African diaspora, Dosunmu-Ogunbi’s achievement offers a powerful reminder of what can emerge when talent, opportunity and perseverance meet.

She may have become the first Black woman to earn a Robotics PhD at Michigan, but her own work suggests she does not intend for the distinction to remain singular.

Her historic degree opened a door. Her teaching, research and mentorship are now helping others walk through it.