Misha Mahowald

/ˈmiːʃə məˈhoʊwɔːld/

(Minneapolis, USA, January 12, 1963 – December 26, 1996)

Field: Neuroscience, Neuromorphic Engineering, Computer Vision

Short bio: American pioneer of neuromorphic engineering who developed the "silicon retina," one of the first bio-inspired vision sensors, laying the foundation for modern event-based and neuromorphic vision systems.

Why notable: She was one of the founding figures of neuromorphic engineering, bridging neuroscience, hardware design, and machine perception. Her groundbreaking work continues to influence robotics, computer vision, and AI research today, making her an especially fitting namesake for a robotics or computer vision laboratory. Her lasting impact is recognized through the Misha Mahowald Prize in Neuromorphic Engineering.

More information: Wikipedia