Robert Pless is a distinguished computer science professor and researcher, currently serving as the Patrick and Donna Martin Endowed Professor and Department Chair at George Washington University. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, which he earned in December 2000, and a B.S. in Computer Science from Cornell University, which he received in May 1994.

Pless has had a distinguished academic career, having held various positions at Washington University in St. Louis before joining George Washington University. At Washington University, he served as a Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science, where he also held several department and university positions. These include the Director of the Doctoral Program, the Director of Graduate Admissions, and the Center for Security Technologies Assistant Director.

Pless' research focuses on visual computing, with applications in perception, robotics, environmental measurement, and social justice. He is particularly interested in data-driven and geometric techniques for understanding images taken in real-world environments. His current research seeks answers to questions in three main areas: next-generation imaging systems, understanding visual change at different scales, and democratizing visual analytics and applications for societal computing.

Pless has published numerous research papers, patents, and articles in various peer-reviewed journals and conferences. He is a highly respected figure in computer science, and his work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors.