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The University of Maryland MATRIX Lab is growing its leadership team.
Dr. Jamison Watson now serves as the MATRIX Lab’s inaugural Assistant Director for Research Development. The position was created so the lab could continue its focus on building impactful research, education, and economic development partnerships after former Director of Operations and Outreach, Matt Scassero, announced his retirement.
Dr. Watson is a multi-domain researcher with a background in science policy and interagency collaboration. In his role at the MATRIX Lab, he’ll be responsible for expanding the scope and impact of its autonomous research and technologies. That includes ensuring that the work addresses real-world challenges like safely accelerating technology test and evaluation and closing the gap between classroom learning and real-world work.
“A core part of my role will be building and sustaining meaningful partnerships with local communities, industry, and public sector stakeholders,” Dr. Watson said. “My goal is to ensure that our research is not only cutting-edge but also impactful, thereby contributing to workforce development and regional growth.”
The role also includes strategy and big-picture thinking – Dr. Watson is growing the MATRIX Lab’s visibility and recognition. He aims to establish the lab as a national leader in the test and evaluation of autonomous systems as these technologies become more and more prevalent in our daily lives. His goal is to deliver value to the ecosystem by learning the priorities of organizations including local businesses, academic partners, and federal agencies, then ensuring the lab offers resources to meet those needs.
A STEM professional, Dr. Watson holds a PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. His previous roles at the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy have given him experience navigating complex systems and translating between disciplines.
To anyone interested in learning more about Dr. Watson or chatting with him about the work the MATRIX Lab does, he can be reached at his UMD email, jtwatson@umd.edu.
“I’m always happy to chat about our work, explore ideas, or discuss collaboration opportunities!” Dr. Watson said.
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July 18, 2025
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