I hope this article finds you well. I’m Julia Di 🙂! I’m of Chinese origin and I’m studying robotics at Stanford University in the United States. In high school, I was mainly interested in visual arts and English literature, and I dreamed of a career in art.
However, I was also interested in technology and how technology could directly help people. One of my friends in high school created a robotics club during our high school year. It was my first time hearing about robotics. Seeing how a team of people could create a complex robot, which required skills in mechanics, electricity, and computer science, really inspired me.
For my bachelor’s degree, I decided to continue in electrical engineering at Columbia University. I chose electrical engineering by randomly looking at pages in a career guide. At that time, I didn’t know much about the field of engineering and I wanted to learn as much as possible before specializing.
Currently, I’m a PhD student in a more specific field: manipulation. It involves moving objects via robotics. This has several applications ranging from the “aerospace industry to the”medical industry. A PhD program typically requires 5 to 6 years after a bachelor’s degree, so I’ll be in school for a good while longer!
For my PhD, I was awarded a grant from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) that funds my program. As a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow, I can work and conduct research on various robotics projects. Last summer, my project was called PUFFER and focused on a folding robot inspired by origami (the art of paper folding).
This summer my project will be on “Astrobee”, a free-flying robot that is currently on the International Space Station. For anyone interested in space robotics, NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) is a great opportunity. Plus, you don’t need to be a U.S. citizen to work there! After my PhD, I’m thinking of either starting my own robotics company or joining an existing company to create robots and help people.
I’ve been very lucky so far, due to strong support from NASA and never having been discriminated against or invalidated during my work. However, on several occasions, I felt discriminated against at the beginning of my engineering studies, often taking the form of “microaggressions”. Indeed, I have sometimes been treated condescendingly or sometimes assigned to take notes rather than participate in technical work in project groups.
Everyone experiences stress or lack of self-confidence at least once in their life. For me, it helps to remember what my family had to overcome to get to this level. My grandparents were peasants from China, with an elementary education level, having abandoned their studies for work. My parents immigrated to the United States, where they faced many difficulties such as learning a new language. I am the first in my family to be born outside of China. When I’m stressed or feeling excluded, I remind myself that I’m not alone in facing my difficulties because I have the support of my entire family. I also tell myself that these difficulties are not really insurmountable.
So what does my daily routine look like? Usually I go to the lab, where everyone is prototyping, designing, and coding different robotics projects. Some days, it looks like this clip from Big Hero 6:
I love my job because as a researcher I can try cool and crazy ideas. Some of these ideas are bad, others are good and may end up in space, in your textbooks, or in art museums. What could be cooler than helping to invent the future?
During my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, and hiking. I also like cooking and spending time with my family and friends. I make sure to infuse empathy into the things I build and do. I take my Instagram and Twitter pages as examples: @astroboticist. These show pieces of my professional life, such as the robotics projects I’m working on. Feel free to send me a message on these channels if you wish to contact me. I also sometimes show pieces of my personal life, like drawings I make for friends.
My advice to all those who want to get into robotics but are afraid:
First of all, focus and learn! No matter how many obstacles you encounter or how many people think you can’t – if you cultivate your talent in science / engineering / mathematics / technology, you will find a place in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). Focus on improving your skills and don’t waste energy on negative influences and people.
Secondly, express yourself! If you have an idea, speak up! Don’t be afraid to know if it’s “good” or “bad” or if a boy will say the same idea 10 seconds later. Ask questions if you don’t understand and don’t be afraid if some seem “stupid”. Often, the “stupid” questions I ask end up being very important because they signal something, a design problem, that everyone has forgotten! You are smart and capable, but you need to show it by advocating for yourself.
Finally, use your uniqueness to your advantage. Due to gender inequality in STEM fields, being a woman or a gender minority is an automatic way to stand out in the crowd. Use it to your advantage when meeting people, “networking” and learning more!
Article written by Angela Y
Julia DI: the one who Makes NASA’s Robots Move
