Christian Hubicki, an associate professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has gained recognition for his dual roles as a robotics researcher and a contestant on the reality television show “Survivor.” Working out of the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics, and Energy Center at Innovation Park, Hubicki leads the Optimal Robotics Lab. There, he and his team focus on developing algorithms that help robots navigate complex environments.
Hubicki’s experience in academia stands in contrast to his time on “Survivor,” where contestants must survive with limited resources in remote locations while competing in various challenges. He is a two-time participant on the show—a dream he pursued persistently.
“Getting to be on ‘Survivor’ for the first time was a dream come true,” Hubicki said. “I had been applying for years, filming my audition tapes in my graduate student robotics lab in the middle of the night so no one would see me because I was embarrassed. I was sending in those tapes and hearing nothing. Then they eventually put me on the show.”
His initial appearance was during Season 37 in 2018, where he became known for his energy and strategic approach before being voted off just before the finale.
Hubicki will return for “Survivor 50: In the hands of the fans,” joining other returning contestants when it premieres Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 8-11 p.m. ET on CBS.
“Seven years later, they remembered me,” Hubicki said. “They wanted me to be back again. It’s pretty crazy. I’m so flattered for that. Over 750 people have played this game over the course of 50 seasons of the show, and some tiny minority of us get to go, and I’m among that. How cool is that?”
In his research role at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Hubicki specializes in legged robotics—including bipedal robots modeled after human movement as well as quadrupeds inspired by animals—and focuses on control optimization and biomechanics related to locomotion.
“I’ve been interested in robotics since I was a young child, ever since I had a set of LEGOs that I got for Christmas,” Hubicki added. “I watched the movie ‘Short Circuit’ with the robot Johnny 5. I knew that this was for me.”
Hubicki earned his doctorate from Oregon State University as a dual major in robotics and mechanical engineering before serving as a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech prior to joining Florida State University.
Reflecting on how skills from academia translated into “Survivor,” Hubicki said: “Getting to play a second time, you have a whole different perspective…You watch the show but you don’t know how it feels…As much as you think you know how it’s going to be, you learn a lot.”
Back at FSU, Hubicki continues advancing robotic intelligence alongside students through new research projects and publications.
“I’m living the dream,” Hubicki said. “I’m taking a childhood dream of doing things with robots and pairing it with an actual profession…We’re developing new cutting-edge research…I feel so fortunate because you get to marry that joy…with something you get to do for a living.”
Hubicki notes communication skills developed during “Survivor” have helped him connect beyond engineering circles—a lesson he shares with students about persistence and adaptability.
“What it takes is an open mind and it takes persistence,” Hubicki said. “It takes an openness to other people….You must adapt to these classes that come your way….You have to persist regardless…It’s the same thing on this show. You need to find people you can count on even when things get tough.”
His career path demonstrates how curiosity and resilience can bridge seemingly unrelated fields like robotics research and reality television.
