Week 9 & 10
Wow, it’s October already?!
This month started off with a lot of networking and reflection. Around this time last year, I remember walking into crowded halls at career fairs, workshops, and even classes, and feeling nervous to speak up.
Now, looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I keep pushing myself into new, unfamiliar spaces. They don’t always feel comfortable, but that’s where growth happens.
It’s about being just a little better than yesterday.
Research & Innovation Week
The seventh annual Research & Innovation Week kicked off the month, bringing together researchers, students, and innovators across CU Boulder. The week was designed to build community, spark collaboration, and highlight how our campus is shaping tomorrow’s ideas.
It was great to be part of the event as someone working within RIO. I finally met many of the team members in person, people I’ve only known through Zoom screens until now. We talked about the changing landscape of research policy, how universities can stay adaptive, and the incredible opportunities that exist right here in Boulder.
State of the Research and Innovation Enterprise
One of the highlights was the State of the Research and Innovation Enterprise session, led by Massimo Ruzzene, CU Boulder’s Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. He shared key insights about how CU’s research ecosystem is evolving, from metrics and partnerships to the university’s impact on global challenges.
What stood out to me most was how deeply interconnected everything is: sustainability, energy, creative work, and community engagement all feed into one another. It made me think about how every project, no matter how technical, contributes to something much larger.
Front Range Industry & Postdoc Summit (FRIPS 2025)
The Peak of Industry - Academia Collaboration
This day was packed in the best way. I met so many post-doc and PhD researchers working on fascinating projects that bridge theory and application.
The first keynote, Bryn Rees from Venture Partners at CU, set the tone perfectly. He talked about how failure isn’t the opposite of success but part of it. Each setback redirects you toward something better. He also shared how Venture Partners supports university startups, helping ideas move from labs to real markets, which was a side of CU I hadn’t fully appreciated before.
During the industry networking workshop, I spoke with teams from Enveda and Plus One Robotics. We discussed what makes a strong data scientist in cross-functional teams, and their answer was simple but true: communication. It’s something I’ve consciously worked on this past year, and hearing that reinforced how vital it is.
The elevator pitches were another highlight. One presentation that really stood out was Zachariah Malik’s A Differential Equation Approach for Wasserstein GANs and Beyond. To put it simply, his research reimagines how generative AI models learn, using the math of motion (ODEs) to make them train faster and more accurately. Think of it as teaching AI to “walk” toward better images instead of jumping randomly.
The panel discussion with Mike Hoffman (Keysight), Colleen Wynalda (Enveda), and Maya Fabrikant (Quantinuum) was full of honest insights, especially around standing out in interviews and navigating career transitions across industry and research.
We wrapped up the day with bowling at The Connection and some surprisingly deep conversations about how data science intersects with microbiology (think clustering cell samples or optimizing staining methods). FRIPS 2025 was one of those rare days that reminded me why I love being in a place like CU Boulder, where research, innovation, and community meet in the same room.
Engineering Startup Showcase
Also part of Research & Innovation Week, the Engineering Startup Showcase brought together founders, researchers, and students who are translating their ideas into impact.
Speakers like Wil Srubar (Deming Associate Dean for Innovation & Entrepreneurship) and founders from startups such as BoldRF, Synforce, AtomTCAD, and OsmoPure Technologies shared how their ventures began inside CU labs and evolved into companies tackling real-world problems, from sustainable materials to advanced sensing systems.
What I liked most was hearing about the personal side of innovation: the small decisions, the late-night prototypes, the persistence that turns research into something tangible. It was very inspiring to see how CU Engineering continues to back these ideas through mentorship, funding, and collaboration. It really made it clear that research doesn’t end with publication; it’s a launchpad for building something that can actually make life better.
Technology, Innovation & Mathematics Career & Internship Fair
This day was packed. Almost 60 companies under one roof.
Last year, I remember stepping into a career fair and leaving within 10 minutes because of how overwhelming it felt. This time, I went in prepared: resume ready, questions planned, and the confidence that comes with a year of growth.
I had some great conversations with companies like Ibotta, Fast Enterprises, Kyrus Tech, Qualcomm, Starz Entertainment, and Micron Technologies. Each had a different take on how data drives their work. From fraud analytics to large-scale systems optimization. What I appreciated most was hearing how data science sits at the intersection of creativity and logic, shaping decisions that affect millions of users every day.
It wasn’t just about handing out resumes. It was about having real conversations, learning what skills are in demand, and understanding how to align what I’m learning in class with what the industry needs right now.
Roam Anywhere Networking Night
Later that evening, I attended the Roam Anywhere Networking Night, which had a mix of startups, nonprofits, and tech companies. It was more relaxed - the kind of event where conversations flowed naturally and you got to know the people behind the job titles.
I especially enjoyed talking with teams from Procare Software, Zonit, VF Corporation, ION Solar, and Northwestern Mutual. Each conversation added something different. From how software helps early education centers manage data better, to how analytics supports sustainability in fashion and energy.
Networking is really about connecting with people who are genuinely passionate about solving problems, just like you are.
Getting Started with AI Agents: AWS Immersion Day
This virtual workshop was a great hands-on introduction to AI agents on AWS Bedrock’s AgentCore.
Led by Vrajesh Prajapati, the session walked us through the process of creating and deploying an agent capable of handling real-world tasks. From answering questions to solving domain-specific problems.
Even though the workshop was beginner-friendly, it offered solid insights into how AI agents are structured, how they connect with APIs, and how prompt orchestration works behind the scenes. I especially liked the part where we explored Bedrock’s modular design, making it easier to personalize and scale agent capabilities without rebuilding everything from scratch.
It felt like the perfect mix of theory and practice, seeing how agent systems are designed to go beyond chat and actually take action.
Data Engineering Connect: Architect for AI with Open Formats
The live demos were the highlight:
AWS Glue Data Catalog for unified metadata and pipeline management
Snowflake OpenFlow for connecting unstructured data to Iceberg tables
Horizon Catalogs for proactive data quality checks
and cross-cloud sharing of Iceberg and Delta tables for real-time collaboration
I really liked that most of the emphasis was on governance for AI. It’s the idea that smarter AI doesn’t just come from better models, but from well-structured, trusted data. It tied together how architecture, engineering, and AI all converge when you’re building for scale and reliability.
Boulder Climate Ventures: Climate Tech 3.0
I’m really happy to share that I’m now part of BCV: Boulder Climate Ventures - a community focused on advancing climate innovation through entrepreneurship and technology.
The launch event was full of people from business, engineering, and science backgrounds, along with AI engineers and data scientists (like myself), all coming together with one shared goal: building solutions that actually make a difference for the planet.
It kicked off with Trent Yang, who introduced the idea of Climate Tech 3.0, which is a new phase of climate innovation focused on scaling companies with strong economic fundamentals. The key takeaway: the next generation of climate solutions won’t just survive because of subsidies or mandates, but because they’re better, cheaper, and more efficient.
We also heard from Susie Strife, Boulder County’s Sustainability Director, who shared how the county is piloting local sustainability initiatives and scaling them through public–private partnerships. Her talk was a great reminder that meaningful climate action often starts at the community level.
The panel that followed included leaders like Doug Campbell (former CEO of Solid Power), Michael D. McGehee (CU Boulder Chemical Engineering), and Tasso von Windheim from Buff Gold Ventures. They discussed the intersection of innovation, policy, and business, and how collaboration between academia and startups is key to driving climate impact at scale.
I walked away from the event genuinely inspired and grateful. It’s exciting to be part of something that blends data, innovation, and purpose, and to meet so many people who are using their expertise to create real change.
From exploring climate innovation with Boulder Climate Ventures to exploring ways data can help in various fields at FRIPS 2025, everything seems to circle back to one theme: connection. Between people, ideas, and the planet we share.
Here’s a picture of the beautiful Flatirons from a hike I went on last week, which was the perfect way to end a busy couple of weeks. Standing there, surrounded by all that calm, it was easy to remember why I’m here: to keep learning, to build things that matter, and to never lose curiosity along the way.
Here’s to more of that - in work, in life, and everything in between.
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