Spotlight On…Naroa Nuñez Calvo (IWED 2026)
Today (Tuesday 23 June) is International Women in Engineering Day (IWED), an annual celebration established by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to celebrate female engineers and campaign for greater diversity in the field.
To mark the occasion, we are shining a spotlight on Naroa Nuñez Calvo, a PhD student on a visiting placement to The National Robotarium from the Basque Country.
Name: Naroa Núñez Calvo
Organisation: Ikerlan S. Coop and the University of the Basque Country (EHU)
PhD Title: Precision control for industrial mobile manipulators in dynamic operations with loads
Tell us about your background. How did you get into robotics?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved building things and seeing them come to life, realizing how a single movement could set an entire process in motion. This interest led me to study Industrial Electronic and Automation Engineering at the University of the Basque Country. It was there that I had my first robotics class, and I realized this was the path I wanted to follow in my career.
After finishing my degree, I wanted to dive deeper into the field, so I pursued a Master’s in Control, Automation, and Robotics Engineering. Then, I was lucky enough to have great mentors like Itziar Cabanes and Gorka Sorrosal, who guided and encouraged me to get the final push I needed to take the leap into a PhD. Today, I’m fully focused on researching how to make industrial mobile manipulators more precise when handling loads in dynamic operations.
What excites you about being a roboticist?
For me, it’s all about the ability to help both in the industrial world and in our daily lives. Beyond the fact that, at least for me, it’s just incredibly cool to be able to control systems like robotic arms, quadruped robots, humanoids, or mobile manipulators… I’m truly fascinated that a person like me can program systems that can make industrial tasks easier and safer, as well as improve our everyday life.
This year’s International Women in Engineering Day theme is #EngineeringIntelligence. What do you think is a good example of intelligent engineering?
A great example of intelligent engineering in the robotics field is the rise of collaborative robots, or ‘cobots.’ Not long ago, it felt like robots were being created to replace humans. However, they are now seen not as a threat but as tools that support and assist workers, as well as people who need daily support, such as those in rehabilitation or elderly care. In my view, intelligent engineering is about striking a balance between creating technology that uses resources wisely while focusing on how we can genuinely improve people’s lives.
Naroa’s placement has been made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding between The National Robotarium and Robotekin. Find out more about the partnership at this link.
