As evidenced by its inaugural cohort of master’s degree graduates, Columbus State’s Master of Science in Robotics Engineering program has been growing steadily and producing highly successful work-ready graduates since its launch in Fall 2021.

Of the six who comprise the program’s inaugural graduate-level alumni, two are on the path of university-level teaching and research as they pursue doctoral degrees. The remaining four have begun industry-based professional careers after receiving job offers before or immediately after completing their degrees.

“The master's program is distinguished by its diverse and interdisciplinary nature,” explained Rehmana Younis (pictured), who completed her master’s degree in the fall of 2022 and is now a software engineer at Forescout, a Dallas-based cybersecurity company. “It uniquely combines computer science, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering within a single-umbrella program. Its comprehensive curriculum and practical approach were particularly appealing to me [when looking for a graduate program].”

Shokoufeh Davarzani, who completed her master’s degree in the summer of 2023, credits several program factors with preparing her to begin the doctoral program in electrical engineering at Western Michigan University this fall. 

“[Columbus State’s Robotics Engineering] program places a strong emphasis on hands-on practical experience, industry partnerships leading to internships and job opportunities, and a well-rounded curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with real-world applications,” she said. “My exposure to various research areas, research methodologies, and current advancements in the robotics field played a significant role in shaping my research interest.”

As a doctoral student, Davarzani plans to focus her research on developing new robotic-assisted technologies and advanced systems that can enhance healthcare delivery. These specifically will involve designing and fabricating smart wearable sensors to enhance the sensing capabilities and performance of medical and surgery robotics.

'The faculty always believed in me and my ability.'

Younis, Davarzani and their former classmates all credit the program’s faculty members and the mentoring they received from their instructors as primary factors in their post-CSU success. Dr. Mahmut Reyhanoglu (pictured), a professor of robotics engineering and the program’s director, sees the faculty’s role to be part educator, part career counselor.

“We believe our duty extends beyond the doors of our classrooms,” he said. “It involves helping students leave the nest by providing support, guidance and direction in determining their career course. We all agree in our program that preparing our students for employment after college is a priority goal of higher education, and we realize the key to that is providing high-impact practices, meaningful assignments and hands-on projects.”

Reyhanoglu indicated the graduate curriculum is designed to foster career interests in applied research in corporate, military, government or contractor environments. Through hands-on research experience in the lab and graduate teaching roles in the classroom, graduate students can also explore interests in university teaching and research — as was the case for Davarzani.

“The faculty helped me build the strong research and analytical skills necessary for success in a doctoral program,” Davarzani said. “Additionally, they provided me with guidance on potential research specialization areas, assisted me with applying to doctoral programs, wrote recommendation letters, and offered advice on further studies.”

Faculty support and mentoring were vital to summer 2023 graduate Onurcan Bal (pictured) and his continued doctoral-level studies. He’ll begin his Ph.D. studies in mechanical engineering this fall at Oklahoma University.

“My professors and lecturers were more than capable — they were committed to helping students learn and were always available to my classmates and me,” he said. “They were instrumental in advising me about pursuing a doctoral degree. They also helped me a great deal with academic writing and researching during my studies, which will be crucial skills to have during my doctoral coursework.”

Bal plans to develop, deploy and demonstrate a scalable and integrated network of surface sensors that measures and monitors methane concentration and leak plumes in a large region of Oklahoma’s Anadarko Basin. This is expected to include developing autonomous-capable mobile sensing tools using an electric vehicle and unmanned robot. 

“The faculty always believed in me and my ability,” recalled Natasha Barrow (pictured), who completed her master’s degree in the fall of 2022. “In the classroom, my professors created an environment where you can self-teach and ask for help. That encouraged me to speak up, engage in research projects, and take initiative.”

Now a systems engineer with L2Harris Technologies, a Rochester, New York-based federal government contractor, she’s reaping the benefits of the support she received from her instructors on understanding industry applications for robotics engineering, applying practical and ethical engineering considerations, and establishing a professional focus.

The program 'provided me a foundation in robotics.'

“The availability of the latest robotic technology in the program’s labs exposes students to the tools and versatility of the robotics field — including industrial automation, mobile robot applications, artificial intelligence, and robotic vision systems,” said Saira Gillani, who earned her master’s degree in the fall of 2022. “Its state-of-the-art facilities, well-rounded curriculum and interdisciplinary approach provided me a foundation in robotics, which included robot design, control, automation and programming.”

Today, she is an artificial intelligence systems engineer at Denver-based Adinkra. There, she is responsible for developing new applications and systems that utilize artificial intelligence to improve performance and efficiency. This includes working on and consulting with robotic companies and organizations on stereo vision and identifying computer vision-based solutions. She credits Columbus State with the hands-on experience that proved vital in preparing her for her professional career.

“Hands-on projects allowed me to design, build and program robots and simulated real-world challenges — all of which allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to practical applications,” Gillani (pictured) recalled. “Along with that, participating in frequent robotics competitions placed me in competitive environments and strengthened my teamwork skills, which have been valuable skills for me in my professional setting.”

Barrow agreed that the hands-on experiences and interactions with industry representatives were key to developing both her technical and soft skillset.

“The program allowed me to work with several cultures, personalities and perspectives, which are needed in the industry,” she said. “I've learned to appreciate other approaches. Technically, it developed my knowledge of algorithms, pushed me to become a better coder on my own time, and helped in modeling mission plans.”

The university’s robotics facilities are what frequently attract research and industry representatives to partner with the program. Reyhanoglu explained those partnerships benefit students both in terms of applying technical concepts to real-world applications and building networks that lead to additional mentorships and future internships and jobs.

An ongoing partnership with the U.S. Army’s nearby Fort Moore has given robotics engineering students the opportunity to problem-solve with the military on improving the mobility of quadruped robots in field-based applications.

“I’ve loved coming to CSU and talking to the robotics engineering classes because there is a level of passion there that heartens me as to the direction we have going forward,” Dr. Ted Maciuba, deputy director of Robotics Requirements at Fort Moore, said. “Our focus at Fort Moore is small robots for small units. What we are trying to do is to pull the Army into the Information Age. Our technologies are 1970s technologies (updated of course), and robotics is a key to success for those countries that have the best technology.”

Spring 2023 master’s degree graduate Robert Mclean, who was already living in Georgia when he applied to the robotics program, considers the experience he received through these partnerships to be a win-win when also factoring in the program’s affordability.

“I had three other offers [to other graduate programs] — all out of state — but I wanted to stay close to home,” he said. “With CSU, I was able to manage costs and stay local while also getting an excellent education that helped me achieve my career goals. I became eligible for opportunities for hands-on job training that in turn gave me access to high-level engineering job opportunities upon graduation.”

That practical experience included two summers interning in manufacturing engineering for Columbus, Indiana-based Cummins Inc. That, coupled with his graduate degree, landed Mclean an in-state job as well. Today, Mclean is a senior manufacturing engineer at Lockheed Martin in Marietta. There, he works with a team to analyze and improve production efficiencies, safety and costs for the C130J Super Hercules transport aircraft production line.

'...maximizing our students' workforce marketability...'

Market.us reported in early 2023 that the industrial robotics market was valued at $48.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $142.8 billion by 2032. The adoption of robotics-focused automation, an increase in the ecommerce industry, and the application of artificial intelligence in retail, manufacturing and research settings are all contributing factors to this threefold expansion in the industry, which began trending upward as early as 2016.

The demand for robotics engineers is expected to grow by more than 13% in the next three years. The United States’ planned $280 billion investment through the recently approved federal CHIPS and Science Act to bolster the nation’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity, catalyze research and development, and create regional high-tech hubs will provide a significant lift to the STEM workforce.

“[The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022] will strengthen American manufacturing, supply chains, and national security, and invest in research and development, science and technology, and the workforce of the future to keep the United States the leader in the industries of tomorrow, including nanotechnology, clean energy, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence,” the White House stated about the act’s passage.

That forecast includes the robotics engineering industry, which will play a central role in achieving the act’s goals, especially manufacturing, in Georgia and beyond — with employment opportunities expected in private, governmental and military settings alike.

Central to the program’s workforce-focused efforts is its Robotics Engineering Industrial Advisory Board, which is comprised of senior leaders representing industries, the military and government agencies. Reyhanoglu attributes the IAB to keeping program faculty connected to and apprised of evolving internship and post-graduate career opportunities for its students.

“Our board membership represents the entities that are hiring our students once they graduate,” he explained. “When board members are on campus for our board meetings, they spend time getting to know our students. They also update our faculty on the industry’s needs, which translates into keeping our curriculum responsive to and as cutting-edge as the industry itself, and maximizing our students’ workforce marketability as they seek internships and jobs after they graduate.”

'...a leading program of its kind...'

Since their inception, both the undergraduate and graduate Robotics Engineering programs have grown exponentially: the bachelor’s program tenfold since its launch in 2019, and the master’s program threefold since 2021. Reyhanoglu expects the program's undergraduate enrollment to climb to 100 students and graduate enrollment to 30 master’s degree students within the next five years.

Based in the College of Letters & Sciences’Department of Earth & Space Sciences, Columbus State’s program hosts Georgia’s only bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in robotics engineering. At CSU, students prepare for careers in robotics, automation, hardware development, software development and machine learning. In addition to traditional bachelor’s and master of science degrees in robotics engineering, its accelerated Robotics Engineering programallows exceptional students to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. 

The university’s suite of robotics engineering offerings also includes an associate of science degree in engineering studies and a seven-course, 21-credit-hour robotics certificate program open to all CSU students and others seeking to expand their knowledge in the field.

“My vision for the Columbus State’s Robotics Engineering program is that it will be a leading program of its kind in the nation — educating the highly qualified workforce statewide, regionally, nationally and internationally,” Reyhanoglu said.

He indicated that expanded teaching and research facilities to accommodate both enrollment growth and research capabilities are in the program’s immediate crosshairs. Those larger facilities would be designed to host an eight-camera motion-tracking system in a GPS-denied indoor environment to incorporate work with drone swarms.

Program marketing and recruitment begins in elementary school through student and faculty involvement in local robotics competitions and extends through high school through partnerships with the Muscogee County School District and the university’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The K-12/university partnership has captured the attention of the region’s congressional delegation, which has secured more than a million dollars for its educational and outreach initiatives.

Reyhanoglu hopes to add to those outreach and recruitment efforts a mobile career day program, through which the university and its industry and agency partners would open their facilities to K-12 students and future engineers, scientists and astronomers to explore career opportunities in the STEM fields.

For more information about the robotics programs at CSU, visit columbusstate.edu/robotics.