Samuel O. Rodriguez earned his bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Texas A&M University in 2002. He continued his studies there, completing a Ph.D. in Computer Science with a research focus on robotics, particularly applying motion planning to multi-agent systems. He graduated in 2011 and remained at Texas A&M as a postdoctoral researcher for five years, continuing his research in robotics and multi-agent systems.  

Dr. Rodriguez finds fulfillment in incorporating Python and its libraries into his courses, as it provides students with powerful tools to work on practical applications in computer science. He takes pride in helping students grow both academically and professionally, by providing mentorship and fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. The most rewarding part is guiding them on the right path to support them in their Computer Science passions. Each student has different interests, so assisting them in their research and on their individual journeys is his goal. 

Rodriguez is a family-first kind of guy, where his true passion lies in supporting his loved ones. When he's not diving into family activities like cheering at his daughters' swim meets or softball games, he’s stepping up to help behind the scenes running scoreboards. Outside of family life, Rodriguez indulges in a mix of simple pleasures: reading, binge-watching TV shows and movies, and enjoying sports. Dr. Rodriguez also supports major conferences by reading submitted proposals to choose presenters monthly. His goal is to teach and prepare students to be the best in the field, watch them cross the graduation stage to go on to do bigger and greater things, but at his core, it’s the blend of being there for his family that truly drives him. 

Education

• Ph.D., Texas A&M University, College Station
• B.S., Texas A&M University, College Station

Research Interests

• Computer Graphics
• Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Motion planning applications
• Crowd simulation
• Graphics (related to crowd simulation)
• Applications of multi-agent systems in various fields, including gaming and simulations

Teaching Interests

• Programming (particularly Python)
• Data Structures
• Computer Graphics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Robotics
• Multi-agent systems
• Simulation
• Data Structures