Three Graduates Discuss New Jobs

Sushma Chandra (MSR '23), James Oubre (MSR '23), and Megan Sindelar (MSR '23) capped off their summers in Northwestern Engineering's Master of Science in Robotics (MSR) program by accepting exciting job opportunities all over the world.  

Chandra is in Tokyo, where she's working as a robotics software engineering intern at Sony; Oubre is working at The University of Texas at Austin Applied Research Laboratory; and Sindelar is a computer vision algorithm engineer at Applied Research Associates in Raleigh, N.C.  

The three graduates recently took time to discuss their new roles and how they were influenced by their time and experiences in MSR. 

What excites you about your new job? 

Chandra: What excites me the most is the opportunity to be part of the groundbreaking innovation at Sony, work on challenging projects, and enhance my skills while gaining valuable experience in the exact domain I'm passionate about. 

Oubre: I am excited about this opportunity for many reasons, but the two that stick out the most are that I will get to work in the area of robotics I am most interested in, and I will be collaborating on cutting-edge technology in that field. I came into MSR with a goal of working on underwater robotics, and with this job I will be able to do that at an institution that is pushing the boundaries of what underwater robots can do.  

Sindelar: I’m most excited that this opportunity allows me to dive further into computer vision, which is a crucial skill to have in robotics.  

How do you feel MSR prepared you for that job? 

Chandra: I'm so grateful for the intensive MSR program where I underwent an exponential learning curve. I feel prepared for the job, especially thanks to the courses I took with Professor Matthew Elwin. Professor Elwin emphasized teaching “how to learn” and “how to debug,” which will play a vital role for me.  

Oubre: Everything I’ve learned in the past year applies directly to what I will be doing in my job. The entire program was structured very deliberately. For every class or project, I could see exactly how what I was learning would help me in my career. As far as career preparation, I think MSR is second to none. Every week we had a meeting dedicated to preparing us for getting a job. We talked about everything from improving our résumé, what to look for in companies, how to interview, negotiate contracts, and what companies were hiring. This is something that I have found very unique to this program through talking to other friends in graduate school and it certainly gave me a leg up when applying and interviewing with companies. 

Sindelar: I honestly feel so confident and qualified for this position specifically because of all of the time and effort dedicated to the MSR program. This program helped me gain so much confidence in my abilities not just as a roboticist, but in myself in general as well. My final project also correlates very well with what I am now working on.  

What were the most important lessons you took away from the program? 

Chandra: I greatly appreciate the hands-on approach and experience with real robots. Another aspect I particularly value is the program's approach to fostering independent learning. It has equipped me with the ability to comprehend concepts from the ground up and apply that knowledge to build various projects from scratch within a limited timeframe. This approach has not only broadened my technical skills but also instilled in me the confidence to tackle complex challenges. 

Oubre: Learning to take ownership of a project was a huge lesson I learned. We had two major projects and a number of small ones, but this applied to all of them. Taking ownership meant not only being accountable for the project but knowing what needed to happen next to get the job done, being the most informed on everything pertaining to the project, and being able to see a project through to the end.  

Sindelar: Some of the most important lessons I took away from this program were that dedication and grit really do take you far in life, and sometimes others will see something in you that you’ve never seen in yourself. Allowing others' perspectives to open your own eyes can create an amazing realization of a passion you didn’t even know you had. 

What were your personal highlights from the program? 

Chandra: The MSR program taught me how to approach problems systematically. I have learned to generate multiple innovative approaches to address a single task or challenge. This creative problem-solving mindset has been invaluable in my journey to becoming a well-rounded robotics engineer. 

Oubre: My personal highlights were the freedom we had with courses and projects, as well as the cohort model. As far as the courses and projects go, we were able to pursue whatever interested us the most and had pretty free range when it came to projects. This was important to me because it allowed me to get experience in the exact areas I wanted or to explore exactly what I wanted. The cohort model was also super important to me. Because we were such a small group, we all became great friends and it was a perfect group of people to work with, bounce ideas off of, and ask for help. 

Sindelar: This program has allowed me to explore different areas and fields that I never gave a second thought to and I ended up discovering that I loved them. It has also expanded my knowledge more than any program I’ve ever been in and it honestly blows me away at how much I’ve changed in just the one year. I have never learned more than I’ve learned in MSR and I’ve never felt so prepared for a job that excites me. I am so grateful to have been a part of the MSR program. 

Is there anything else you'd like to add? 

Chandra: The MSR program's hands-on approach, focus on independent understanding and application of fundamental concepts, and encouragement of diverse problem-solving approaches have all contributed to my growth as an engineer. The small cohort size has also been a significant advantage, as it has allowed for a rich exchange of knowledge and inspiration among peers.  

Oubre: When looking for a robotics masters program, I was not interested in a research-based curriculum or to just take a bunch of courses with no practical experience. This program was everything I wanted and more. Every quarter of the program had projects that I found super interesting and they were a main focus of the curriculum. Because of this, I got a ton of hands-on experience and felt like everything we learned was super intentional and there was no wasted time. I also gained so much knowledge on how to be a professional in the field and how to get a job in robotics.  

Sindelar: I love how small the program is because it’s such a bonding experience between the cohort. The professors are such great resources and mentors and I feel lucky to have these resources for life. I would recommend this program to every single person I know who has a passion for robotics. It is the greatest thing I’ve ever been a part of, and it has helped me work toward my dreams.