About Me
I am fascinated by collective behaviors that emerge from the cooperation of vast numbers of individuals, as seen in living organisms as diverse as social insects and fish schools. My PhD at Harvard University pursued the design of a swarm of bio-inspired underwater robots, capable of demonstrating collective behaviors in three-dimensional space. Specializing in computer science, I studied collective intelligence and the coordination of multi-agent systems.
Before coming to Harvard University, I completed a master's and bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich, where I focused on robotics. Mechanical engineering in tandem with computer science makes me a full-stack roboticist, mastering mechanical, electronic, algorithm, and control design. In addition to my research on collective intelligence, I have worked on inspection robotics, medical devices, and smart material systems.
When not at work, I have a passion for the mountains and all sorts of ways to experience gravity, such as skiing, biking, and hiking. I enjoy conversations about the past and future, and I relax over classical music and impressionist art.
Education
Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. Advisors: Prof. Radhika Nagpal, Prof. George Lauder, Prof. Robert Wood.
Thesis: Blueswarm — 3D Self-organization in a Fish-inspired Robot Swarm.
Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. Advisor: Prof. Radhika Nagpal.
Focus: Collective Artificial Intelligence, Multi-Agent Distributed Robotic Systems.
ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Advisors: Prof. Bradley Nelson, Prof. Radhika Nagpal.
Thesis: A Low-Cost, Highly Maneuverable, Miniature Underwater Robot intended for Collective Behaviors.
ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Advisors: Prof. Roland Siegwart, Prof. Mirko Meboldt.
Thesis: Obstacle Climbing Control for an Inspection Robot with Magnetic Wheels.
Work Experience
Fidelity Investments AI Center of Excellence, Boston, USA.
Led a team of five data scientists in developing an internal search AI based on BERT transformers. Spearheaded the design of recommender systems to personalize the customer experience and increase customer retention on Fidelity’s Bloom app.
Princeton School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences, Princeton, USA.
Led the research on implicit coordination for underwater robot collectives sponsored by a $567k ONR grant.
Harvard John A. Paulson School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences, Boston, USA.
Led the research on implicit coordination for underwater robot collectives sponsored by a $567k ONR grant.
RESE — Real estate made easy for all, Boston, USA.
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Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Cambridge, USA.
Led the conception of novel multi-agent robotics platform for the investigation of collective behaviors in 3D space.
Bühler Group, Bangalore, India.
Managed a $30k budget to conduct industrial research including the conception, design, and validation of food processing machines that are sold for profit. Designed the framework and motor suspension for a novel and now commercially available single screw extruder. Visited customers in Northern India to test prototypes for controlled and cost-effective oil spraying of pulses on site.
Teaching & Mentoring
Paula Wulkop. Visiting master's student from ETH Zurich.
6-month-long master's thesis on "Evasive maneuvers in a bioinspired underwater robot collective".
Lucas Guzman. Harvard University, COMPSCI 91r: Supervised Reading and Research.
Semester-long research project on “Collective Mapping and Visual Odometry with Miniature Underwater Robots”.
Harvard University, COMPSCI 289: Biologically-Inspired Multi-Agent Systems.
Lectured in class and advised two final projects.
Felix Gonda, Katherine Binney, Zachary Zieper, Katerina Soltan, Maggie Wang, Sophia Nielsen.
Graduate, undergraduate, and summer students at Harvard University.
Harvard University, COMPSCI 189: Autonomous Robot Systems.
Held sections and office hours, advised and graded students, won teaching award.
ETH Zurich, ENSCI: Innovation Process.
Coached three undergraduate engineering teams during their “Innovation Process” course. • Supported the students in conceptualizing and realizing a mechatronic system with several sensors and actuators to master a prespecified project challenge.
Fellowships & Awards
Finalist in the categorie "Multi-Robot Systems" at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)
David B. Heller Innovation Fund at Harvard University
Harvard University Bok Center
Finalist in two categories (best conference paper and best student paper) at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)
Harvard University
Janggen-Pöhn Foundation
Werner Siemens Foundation
Swiss Study Foundation
Bühler Group
Swiss Study Foundation
Wil High School
Employer's Association Wil
Leadership & Activities
Completed a summer MBA at the Harvard Business School.
Member of the reatch-team for artificial intelligence, wrote an article on AI and robotics.
Board member, organized talks with ETH professors.
Board member and vice president, organized forums with Swiss Federal Councilors for several hundred participants.