WIRED Global Center had the pleasure of catching up with four of our 2024 Summer Fellows, and we are excited to share their experiences and advice with you as we look forward to welcoming this summer's fellows.
Jack Doughty
Jack Doughty, an electrical engineering student from the University of Utah, gained hands-on experience developing artificial intelligence-enabled real-time spectral unmanned devices for reconnaissance in local wildland fire management. Under the mentorship of Dr. Rajesh Menon, Jack worked on market-ready solutions aimed at improving climate resilience and disaster response.
Key Takeaways From Jack:
One of Jack’s biggest takeaways was working with a mentor. He also valued connecting with like-minded peers, expanding his professional network and learning from others who share his passion for innovation.
When asked how working with faculty and industry experts at the WIRED Global Center shaped his perspective on climate resilience and grid adaptation, Jack said:
"It shaped my perspective that there are many people all working on this problem, and we are fortunate that we are not alone in the effort.”
Advice for Future Fellows
Jack encourages future WIRED fellows to: "Communicate with your mentor consistently and do not be afraid to ask for help."
His experience highlights the importance of mentorship, collaboration and hands-on research in addressing real-world challenges. Currently, Jack is continuing his research with his mentor and hopes to publish his research from his summer with WIRED. Stay tuned to find out more.
Saud Amjad
Saud Amjad, an electrical engineering and mechatronics student at the University of Calgary, spent his summer gaining practical experience focused on machine learning fundamentals, neural network models, data acquisition and analysis. It helped him build skills essential for real-world engineering challenges.
Key Takeaways From Saud:
Saud’s most significant learning experiences included data acquisition and developing a deeper understanding of how wildfires impact the grid. Reflecting on the fellowship, he said:
"Simply put, the WIRED Summer Fellowship was successful in helping me in the pursuit of gaining engineering experience beyond the school of a traditional classroom environment.”
He credits Dr. Mostafa Farrokhabadi, along with graduate students Chibuike Peter Ohanu and Irtaza Sohail, for their guidance. Their mentorship helped him navigate complex engineering concepts and played a crucial role in shaping his professional and personal growth.
Advice for Future Fellows
Saud encourages future WIRED fellows to take full advantage of networking opportunities:
"Connect with as many people as you can. There are still connections I have (even months later) that I met at the symposium—industry and research leaders in North America. Learning from mentors like them is invaluable, and getting to present something important to them is an incredible opportunity."
Saud’s journey emphasizes the importance of networking and hands-on learning in shaping future innovative minds.
Sofia Moeinvazari
Sofia Moeinvazari, an electrical engineering student at Stanford, spent her summer gaining hands-on experience in cyberinfrastructure development by researching data centers and AI. She found great value in collaborating with others, which she described as the most rewarding aspect of the program.
Key Takeaways From Sofia:
Sofia appreciated the opportunity to engage with Ph.D. students and researchers, learning about their projects, challenges, and career paths. She felt prepared for the professional world with the skills she acquired in this fellowship.
Advice for Future Fellows
Sofia encourages future WIRED fellows to immerse themselves in the experience of being in the lab environment:
“Use this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the dynamics of working in a lab. It’s not just about technical skills but also about understanding teamwork, project management, and communication in a professional research setting. These are crucial skills that will serve you well in any future workplace.
Sofia’s summer researching with WIRED allowed her the opportunity to consider her own professional and scholastic pursuits and the path she is on.
Ozan Bayiz
Ozan Bayiz, a computer science student from UC Berkeley, had the opportunity to dive into cyberinfrastructure development. He gained hands-on experience with building user interfaces and optimizing code for performance. He described the scope of his project evolving throughout his research, which allowed him to work on a variety of tasks. Although he had to scrap a lot of code he had written, he is grateful for the opportunity to learn and further his career in computer science.
Key Takeaways From Ozan:
He shared that learning how to work with REST APIs and build user interfaces were the key highlights of his experience.
Advice for Futute Fellows:
“Take the time to understand how your project fits into the bigger picture—it will keep you focused and help you make meaningful progress without getting lost in the details."
Ozan’s experience gave him applicable skills to guide him throughout his undergraduate studies and beyond.
We want to send out a big thank you again to our 2024 Summer Fellows! It was a pleasure having you with us for the summer, continue your innovation and studies! We wish you continued success in your fields of study and careers.