About
James D. Motes is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where he leads multiple graduate research teams and develops intelligent multi-robot planning frameworks. His research focuses on making robotic systems more capable and more directable by human intelligence, with applications in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and assistive robotics.
He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in 2023, with a thesis on "Multi-robot Task and Motion Planning in Hybrid State Spaces" under the supervision of Dr. Nancy M. Amato. Prior to that, he earned his M.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University, where his thesis focused on "Interaction Templates for Multi-Robot Systems," and his B.S. in Computer Engineering, also from Texas A&M, with a minor in Mathematics.
Beyond academia, James has founded and led several startups including Normandy Automation, developing autonomous robotic manufacturing solutions and Optigon Inc, where he serves as Principal Software Engineer leading software development for automated metrology systems. This industry experience grounds his research in real-world problems and drives his commitment to seeing theoretical work manifest into practical impact.
Current Status
On the 2025–26 faculty job market in Computer Science, ECE, and Robotics.
He is currently located in Houston, Texas with his wife, Lauren, and daughter, Atlas.
