Skip to content Skip to footer

The MIT-Pillar AI Collective, a partnership between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) School of Engineering and Pillar VC, has named six fellows for the spring 2024 semester. Each fellow is a graduate student in their final year of a master’s or PhD program who will conduct research in the fields of AI, machine learning, and data science with a focus on commercializing their findings.

The first is Yasmeen AlFaraj, a PhD candidate in chemistry. Her research involves the use of machine learning for the design of sustainable plastics, rubber, and composite materials. Through the Collective, she intends to commercialize her technology and is currently focusing on wind turbine blade manufacturing and conformal coatings.

The second fellow, Ruben Castro Ornelas, is a PhD student in mechanical engineering and an enthusiastic advocate for the future of multipurpose robots. He has designed a dexterous robotic hand that could be used across domestic, industrial, and health care settings. Ornelas plans to focus on identifying potential markets and determining the best approach to business-to-business sales.

Keeley Erhardt, another fellow, has a keen interest in the positive impact of AI on network analysis. Currently a PhD candidate in media arts and sciences, Erhardt has created machine learning algorithms to identify and monitor correlations and hidden signals in large-scale networks. She aims to apply this knowledge commercially, particularly in detecting fraud and other deceptive activities in finance, energy, and national security sectors.

Mechanical engineering PhD candidate Vineet Jagadeesan Nair, another fellow, is researching the modeling of power grids and designing electricity markets to accommodate renewables, batteries, and electric vehicles. He plans to improve the accuracy of forecasting electricity demand and supply.

Mahdi Ramadan, a PhD candidate in brain and cognitive sciences, uses AI and computational modeling to aid in cognizance and neurology. As a fellow, he will seek to enhance spinal prosthetics by integrating AI motor models which can realign, speed up, and correct limb muscle activations in real-time.

The last fellow, Rui (Raymond) Zhou, also focuses on engineering, specifically on multimodal AI for engineering design. His work could transform how designers use data and visuals for crafting comprehensive 2D and 3D designs. Zhou’s ultimate goal is to commercialize this technology as a software-as-a-service platform that could redefine product design across various industries.

These fellows, backed by resources from the MIT-Pillar AI Collective, are set to drive pioneering research in AI and make significant strides towards the commercialization of their innovations.

Leave a comment

0.0/5