Ivan Fischman Ekman Simões is from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has received his B.S. degree in ME from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, and his M.S. degree in ME from University of Sao Paulo. He is now pursuing a Ph.D. degree, also in Mechanical Engineering, at Virginia Polytechnic University. His research focuses on robotics, control, mobility in robotic systems, and legged locomotion.