By Brad Geving
President: Priyanka Rajan
Priyanka is a 3rd-year Computer Science major. She has been an active member of RoboJackets and has held various roles within the organization. Last year, she served as the RoboNav Project Manager, where she focused on establishing the team’s foundations for the University Rover Challenge (URC), the team’s new competition. She also previously worked as a RoboNav Software Developer.
One of Priyanka’s favorite experiences in RoboJackets was attending IGVC during her freshman year. Despite encountering microcontroller issues, she enjoyed working through the challenges with her team and appreciated the camaraderie they shared. Throughout her time in RoboJackets, Priyanka has gained valuable experience and made significant contributions. As the RoboNav Project Manager, she directed team progress, set goals, and organized the prototyping, building, and testing of a Mars rover robot from scratch. She also developed new recruitment strategies to expand the team and share robotics knowledge with more students.
With her extensive experience and passion for robotics, Priyanka is well-equipped to lead RoboJackets as its President. She is committed to fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere within the organization and looks forward to further advancing the club’s accomplishments. Priyanka values the people aspect of RoboJackets and is excited to continue building and fostering the community as the President.
Vice President: Jason Katz
Jason is a 4th-year Computer Engineering major and has been a part of RoboJackets for three years. In his previous role as RoboWrestling Project Manager, he tracked progress, set yearly/monthly goals, and conducted weekly check-ins to ensure the progress was being made, eventually leading the team to place 2nd overall at their first competition in over three years. Prior to this, he held the position of RoboWrestling Mechanical Sub-Team Lead from April 2021 to April 2022. In this role, he not only trained incoming members on the team’s design philosophy but also led projects focusing on the design of modules to be added to the robots.
Outside of RoboJackets, Jason gained industry experience as a Test Engineering Co-op at Annapolis Micro Systems, Inc. from May 2022 to November 2022. Here, he tested chassis, backplanes, and complex PCBs to ensure their proper functioning, which included verifying accurate clocking and communication between different components of the system.
Furthermore, Jason also worked as an Undergraduate Researcher at the Georgia Tech Research Institute from August 2021 to December 2021. In this role, he conducted research on supercapacitors, specifically characterizing commercial and lab-made supercapacitors through scanning electron microscopy and CV curve analysis.
Jason’s extensive experience in different roles within RoboJackets, as well as his industry and research experience, make him a valuable addition to the core leadership team. With his skills in design, project management, and testing, Jason is well-equipped to contribute to the success of RoboJackets and its future endeavors at Georgia Tech.
Secretary: Ryan Mak
Ryan is an incoming 2nd-year mechanical engineering major. He brings with him valuable experience from his participation in the 3lb program in BattleBots last year. In the program, Ryan worked on developing new 3lb robots called Stirfri and Feloni.
One of Ryan’s most cherished moments from his time with RoboJackets was when he had the opportunity to attend the State of Franklin Robot Rumble in Tennessee. This experience not only allowed him to showcase his skills but also gave him a deeper understanding of the robotics community. With this enhanced perspective, Ryan eagerly looks forward to organizing more RoboJackets events in the future.
Outside of school and robotics, Ryan has a diverse range of hobbies that keeps him engaged and active. He particularly enjoys activities like hiking, traveling, windsurfing, paddling, skiing, and swimming. These interests display his love for the outdoors and adventure.
As a true Yellow Jacket, Ryan is dedicated to his studies and determined to excel in his mechanical engineering program. By becoming a member of RoboJackets, he now has the platform to further enhance his skills and pursue his passion for robotics. With his enthusiasm, experience, and wide range of interests, Ryan is set to make a significant impact within RoboJackets.
Shop Manager: Michael McCabe
Michael is a 3rd year Mechanical Engineering major and is taking over the Shop Manager position in RoboJackets. He is a member of the RoboRacing mechanical subteam. Michael’s favorite experience in RoboJackets was attending the 2023 AKS competition and working with teammates to get their kart operational and navigating the track.
As shop manager, Michael plans to build upon past organizational work to increase the ease of retrieval for common tools and improve the flow of the shop. He is excited to contribute to the team’s success and help create a more efficient and productive workspace.
One of Michael’s fondest experiences at Georgia Tech was working on the capstone design project in Georgia Tech’s ME2110 Creative Decisions & Design class. The project focused on designing, manufacturing, and programming a fully autonomous robot based on the semester’s theme of Star Wars. Michael’s team, the Millennium Jackets, had the challenge of retrieving lightsabers, defeating Imperial Walkers, bringing Baby Yoda to safety, and destroying the Death Star.
Overall, Michael brings valuable experience and a passion for robotics to his role as the new Shop Manager in RoboJackets. His dedication to organization and continuous improvement will contribute to the success of the team and the overall advancement of robotics at Georgia Tech.
PR Chair: Leo Lam
Leo is an incoming 2nd-year mechanical engineering major. His passion for robotics led him to join RoboJackets, where he has quickly become an integral part of the team. Last year, Leo participated in the 3lb program in BattleBots, working on a new robot called Scampi. This experience allowed him to gain valuable hands-on knowledge in building and operating robots. Currently, Leo is excitedly working on Anxietii, the second iteration of the 30lb robot. One of Leo’s favorite experiences in RoboJackets so far has been the in-house 3lb scrimmage. It was during this event that Scampi achieved its first win, a memorable moment for Leo and the team.
Leo developed graphic design skills by building logos for an online Pokémon Draft League, creating Twitch overlays and designing mall signage for Rumi Life. As the PR Chair of RoboJackets, he hopes to utilize these skills to expand the organization’s reach and foster greater interaction within the community. With his dedication and expertise, Leo is poised to make a significant impact in RoboJackets.
Outreach Chair: Ishan Doma
Ishan is a 4th-year Biomedical Engineering major. In terms of his research experience, Ishan has worked as a Research Assistant at the Roy Lab and the Kamaleswaran Lab. In these positions, he has been involved in investigating the efficiency of cell manufacturing processes and the use of machine learning algorithms in processing live patient signal data.
In terms of extracurricular positions, Ishan has served as a Prototyping Instructor at the Invention Studio and has been involved in research projects at the Roy and Kamaleswaran labs. Additionally, Ishan has held leadership positions in organizations such as GT Student Foundation Developments Committee and First-Year Leadership Initiative (FLI) Alumni. Furthermore, Ishan is also a member of the Origami Club Executive Board and has served as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador and SHS Ambassadors Finance Officer.
Ishan previously served as the Mechanical Training Lead and the lead of the RoboCup Mechatronics subteam.
In terms of volunteer experience, Ishan has been actively involved in various organizations. He has served as a Blood Donor Ambassador for the American Red Cross for the past four years. Additionally, he has volunteered as an INOVA Physical Therapy volunteer at Inova Health System for nine months, as well as a Volunteer at Reston Hospital for almost two years.
With his strong background in biomedical engineering, research experience, and passion for outreach, Ishan is well-equipped to make a significant impact as the new Officer for Outreach in RoboJackets at Georgia Tech. His dedication to both his studies and extracurricular activities demonstrates his commitment to advancing the field of robotics and helping others in the community.