CISE Industry Roundtable: Ana Medina Ayala, Robotics Software Engineer, Jibo
CISE students gained career insights and advice from Ana Medina Ayala (Ph.D. in ME, 2015) at the February 7, 2018 CISE Industry Roundtable. Professor Sean Andersson introduced his former student to a group of 16 students.
Dr. Medina Ayala is currently a Robotics Software Engineer with Jibo, Inc., a start-up developer of the “First Family Robot” led by renowned leaders in the robotics and consumer electronics space. At Jibo, Dr. Medina Ayala has had the opportunity to contribute to innovations such as the social robot’s unique ability to use facial recognition to interact with people. Her work includes developing, integrating, and testing computer vision algorithms ranging from camera control techniques to deep neural networks for facial recognition and verification.
During the roundtable discussion and luncheon, Dr. Medina Ayala advised students on the importance of clear and constant communication. “Working in industry, you have to remember that not everyone is an engineer. Collaborations involve people with different talents and backgrounds. Knowing how to convey ideas in a manner that is understandable and relatable is critical.” She also emphasized collaboration as the key to innovation and success. “Always help others and always ask for help.”
In 2015, Dr. Medina Ayala earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University. She received a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Tufts University, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Universidad Nacional de San Agustin.