Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1104607
28 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2019 ics and using those tools for different applica- tions. We teach undergraduate students intro- ductory machine learning algorithm that they can use to get started with research. We teach them the basics, such as training and testing, different loss functions, and unsu- pervised versus supervised techniques. These are very foundational, but undergraduate stu- dents don't have that exposure, so we give it to them along with hands-on practice on small datasets where we can manage them. Once they understand the concepts, they can scale to bigger datasets and real issues. Johnson: You must be new to the program, Em- ma. What are your first impressions? Pedersen: It's amazing. I love it so much. Johnson: What was your objective in getting involved? Pedersen: I really enjoy coding, and I felt like— especially in aerospace—they don't make you take many coding classes. I'm taking intro to Java right now just for fun. I'll use it later on, but I was more interested in the machine learn- ing side of it, so it has been fun. Johnson: What are your takeaways so far, and what have you learned doing this project? Pedersen: I've learned an incredible amount of machine learning. I didn't have much experi- ence coming in, so being able to see examples has been helpful. I attend a lot of seminars as well. And even just interacting with Ph.D. students who are on these projects is valuable, such as learning how to present a research project. So, I'm gaining skills in machine learning and technical topics that I will not get in classes in addition to prac- tice with public speaking and giving presenta- tions. Johnson: Right. As we have this conversation, we're standing in the aisle for this conference with all of these professionals, vendors, Ph.D. candidates, and industry leaders walking by and asking you to explain your project. I'm sure it makes it very humanizing for you. Katoch: Science can be used in many applica- tions. Learning science doesn't help unless you know how to apply it to what you are doing. Katoch: It took me some time to think about what applications this could have, and that is some- thing I think a lot of students can learn thanks to the SenSIP REU programs. Students can gain the realization like I did that a single algorithm can be used in different ways, for example. __________________ As we wrapped up, I asked each of the four stu- dents how they saw their research being applied, and whether they planned to continue in this re- search after their doctorate.Their responses were enthusiastic. Johnson: Tony, is this technology production ready? Are you taking it to market? Tony Varghese: We haven't completely finished it yet. I'm a student, so this is research and de- velopment. Next, we are planning to improve the material property. When we make the ma- terial, we can observe the powders are made of a different number of layers. So, our next step is to separate single layers from this group of materials and make an ink with it for print- Goutham Ezhilarasu with winning poster and holding the award he received from the FlexTech Conference— Second Place Award "Innovation of the Future."