My Work as a Robotics Engineer

Josh Marino (MSR '15) is a Robotics Engineer for Intelligent Automation, Inc., a technology innovation company. Marino finds himself innovating on a daily basis, and in the process using key lessons he learned during his time in the Master of Science in Robotics (MSR) program at Northwestern University.

Marino recently spoke about those lessons, his work at IAI and what he would say to a prospective MSR student.

Why were you initially interested in the MSR program?

Undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering led me to pursue the MSR program. I chose to do it at Northwestern since it offered numerous disciplines to pursue since I had not yet chosen one.

Looking back on your overall MSR experience, what was the most important thing you learned?

The most important part of the MSR program for me was learning Robot Operating System (ROS) and figuring out which discipline of Robotics interested me the most, and that was manipulation and controls.

What are you doing now in your job at Intelligent Automation, Inc.?

I work on multiple projects involving robotics and automation, some of which use ROS. I was also the first person to use ROS for a major project at Intelligent Automation, Inc., and since then we have started using it on multiple projects.

How do you incorporate what you learned in MSR into your day-to-day responsibilities?

Getting real experience working with physical robots while using ROS is how I incorporate what I learned in MSR in my professional life.

What would you say to a prospective student considering the MSR program?

I would tell them it is a great opportunity to learn or continue their education in the field of Robotics. The MSR program is unique in that it focuses on applying what you are learning on multiple simulations and/or robot projects throughout the year.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Although it might be a challenging year of hard work, you will learn a lot and make great friends in the small cohort.