CV

Contact Information

Name James Richard Forbes
Professional Title Professor, William Dawson Scholar
Email james "dot" richard "dot" forbes "at" mcgill "dot" ca
Location Macdonald Engineering Building, 817 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3

Professional Summary

Professor of Mechanical Engineering specializing in navigation and control. Research focuses include navigation, optimal and robust control, optimization, system identification and data-driven modelling, and field robotics.

Experience

  • 2025 - Present

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Professor
    McGill University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • 2025 - Present

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Associate Academic Member
    Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute
  • 2022 - Present

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Member
    Centre de Recherches Mathématiques (CRM)
  • 2022 - Present

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Member
    Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED)
  • 2016 - Present

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Member
    GERAD
  • 2015 - Present

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Full Member
    Centre for Intelligent Machines (CIM)
  • 2018 - 2025

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Associate Professor
    McGill University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • 2015 - 2018

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Assistant Professor
    McGill University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • 2013 - 2015

    Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Assistant Professor
    University of Michigan, Department of Aerospace Engineering
  • 2011 - 2013

    Montreal, QC, Canada

    Assistant Professor
    McGill University, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Education

  • 2008 - 2011

    Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ph.D.
    University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
    Aerospace Science and Engineering
    • Thesis: Extensions of Input-Output Stability Theory and the Control of Aerospace Systems.
    • Winner of the 2011 G.N. Patterson Award for the most outstanding PhD thesis at UTIAS.
  • 2006 - 2008

    Toronto, ON, Canada

    M.A.Sc.
    University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
    Aerospace Science and Engineering
  • 2001 - 2006

    Waterloo, ON, Canada

    B.A.Sc.
    University of Waterloo
    Mechanical Engineering (Honours, Co-op)
    • Dean’s Honours, with distinction.

Awards

  • 2026
    Donald L. Mordell EUS Teaching Excellence Award
    McGill Engineering Undergraduate Society

    Awarded for excellence in teaching within the Faculty of Engineering.

  • 2025
    International Conference on Robotics and Automation Best Paper Award
    IEEE Robotics and Automation Society

    With Zi Cong Guo and Prof. Timothy Barfoot won the Best Paper Award for the paper entitled Marginalizing and Conditioning Gaussians onto Linear Approximations of Smooth Manifolds with Applications in Robotics.

  • 2024
    Samuel and Ida Fromson Outstanding Teaching Award in Engineering
    McGill University

    Faculty-wide teaching award recognizing outstanding educational contributions.

  • 2020
    Carrie M. Derick Award for Graduate Supervision and Teaching
    McGill University

    Award recognizing excellence in graduate supervision and teaching.

  • 2017
    Engineering Class of 1944 Outstanding Teaching Award
    McGill University

    Award recognizing excellence in engineering education.

  • 2016
    MAME Professor of the Year
    McGill Association of Mechanical Engineers

    Student-selected award recognizing exceptional teaching and mentorship.

  • 2011
    G. N. Patterson Award
    University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies

    Awarded to the most outstanding PhD graduate of UTIAS.

Certificates

  • Licensed Professional Engineer - Professonal Engineers Ontario (2017)
  • Certificate of Proficiency in Amateur Radio (Basic) - ISED Canada (2017)

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC): Discovery, Alliance, CREATE, Connect, and Engauge.
Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT): New Reseracher, Team, and NOVA.
Mitacs: Accelerate.
IVADO: Fundemental Research program.
CIFAR: AI Catalyst.
Canadian Foundation for Innovation: John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) and Leaders Opportunity Fund.
Research Contract with National Research Council of Canada: Contract.
Canadian Space Agency: Flights and Fieldwork for the Advancement of Science and Technology

Editorial Duties

International Journal of Robotics Reserach (IJRR): Associate Editor (2023 - 2024), Senior Editor (2204 - Present).
International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS): Associate Editor (2023 - 2025).
Conference on Decision and Control: Associate Editor (2013 - Present).
American Control Conference: Associate Editor (2013 - Present).