Eric Whitman

"The Arrogant Roboticist"

Age: 27

IQ: 142

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Occupation: Graduate Student, getting a PhD in Robotics

Education: Currently in 5th Year of Robotics Ph.D, B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Masters in Robotics

When asked what kind of people Eric gets along with best, he responded, “Do robots count as people?” Eric is a young, no-nonsense scientist who has amassed an impressive resume as a roboticist currently working on walking robots.

He has worked on short-term jobs as a mechanical, chemical, electrical, and aerospace engineer and currently mentors students on an all-girl FIRST robotics team. In his free time, Eric works on hobby projects in his basement, including a Rube Goldberg animated assembly line.

He enjoys debating and isn’t afraid to tell someone when they are wrong. Eric describes himself as “brilliant” and admits that he can be “arrogant and blunt” when he thinks someone is “lazy or stupid.” Competitive to a fault, Eric has willingly burnt his hand twice to protect one of his robots from harm.

Follow Eric on Facebook.

More Contestant Bios: Gui Cavalcanti | Joe Caravella | Amy Elliot | Corey Fleischer | Joel Ifill | Tom Johnson | Dan Moyers | Andrew Stroup | Eric Whitman | Alison Wong

Host & Judges: Kal Penn | Mark Fuller | Christine Gulbranson

Guest Judges: Buzz Aldrin | Jason Bardis | Bryan Clay | Burt Dalton | Carl Edwards | Bobak Ferdowski | Brian David Johnson | Kyle Lundequam | Dezso Molnar | Mike Massimino | Adam Stelzner