Community Voices
Celebrating the diversity of experiences and success stories within MRSD!
Remembering Dawei Wang
A Life of Dedication and Influence
Lekha Mohan
Dawei Wang, a 2015 MRSD graduate, was a remarkable individual known for his unwavering dedication, humility, excellence, and brilliance. A valued member of Oculus Research/Meta, he climbed the ladder of success at an unprecedented rate under the guidance of respected leaders, later serving as a role model for others aspiring to reach similar heights. His untimely passing is a significant loss, yet his legacy continues to inspire all who knew him.
This tribute has been compiled by his friends, peers, and professors who worked closely with him and remember him as a dear friend, a kind mentor, and a brilliant intellect – a lasting memory.
The MRSD Swartz Lineage
Mallory Lindahl
MRSD students have many things in common. Hardworking, intelligent, and driven, students in the program continually stand out in their projects and industry knowledge that they apply both within and after their time in graduate school. However, several MRSD students share another thing in common: obtaining a Swartz Fellowship.
MRSD In the Wild
Dec 2018 at Tel Aviv, Israel
Brad Factor (2017) and Ed Terry (2018) both happened to be traveling around Israel. They ran into each other on the streets of Tel Aviv!
MRSD In the Wild
May 2024 at Yosemite National Park, California
Yusyuan Du (2024) traveled to Yosemite with her family and a couple close friends. They hiked up the Mist Trail and really enjoyed the scenery. Yusyuan reached in her pocket to take a photo, but her phone wasn’t there; she assumed that she left it in the car.
Jash Shah (2024) had also just graduated from MRSD, and separately was visiting Yosemite with his family. He finished his hike in a parking lot, then walked toward what he believed was his car. He quickly realized that it wasn’t his car and he was in the wrong lot… but he looked down and saw a cell phone laying on the ground. He picked it up, only to find a CMU ID Card on the back saying “Yusyuan Du.”
Jash contacted Sarah, who helped word get back to Yusyuan that she can pick up her phone at the park’s lost & found. Sarah then suggested that the two of them go buy some lottery tickets.
MRSD In the Wild
June 2024 at Santa Clara, California
It was 6pm on a Friday, one of those times when the office felt deserted. Naman Menezes (2025) was just about to head home from his internship at NVIDIA, when someone he passed noticed the Robotics Institute logo on his shirt. It turned out he was an MRSD alum himself! Not surprising—who else would voluntarily be at the office so late on a Friday? Naman was about to launch into his usual rant about how hectic MRSD can be when Theo Zhang (2017) mentioned that he completed the 3-semester program, and that ended Naman’s venting.
Naman had this to say: “Meeting Theo was amazing. For the first time, I felt that even though we were years apart, it was like we’d sat in the same classes together. We talked about our ILRs and PRs, and I realized how remarkably consistent MRSD has been across cohorts. Theo shared how, despite the challenges, it’s always worth it when you look back at what you’ve accomplished. Meeting him reminded me that MRSD isn’t just about amazing robots; it’s also about the wonderful people behind them.”
MRSD In the Wild
June 2024 at Austin, Texas
After graduating, Abhishek Pavani (2023) moved to Austin, eager to dive into the local cricket scene. He was surprised to learn that Shivam Gautam, a 2016 MRSD graduate, was on the same team! Their shared enthusiasm for the game quickly forged a strong friendship. Apparently teamwork extends beyond MRSD; it’s a lifelong skill that connects us all! Now congratulations are due, as their team won the championship this season – with Shivam earning the “Player of the Match” award for the final game!
Alumni Spotlight
Rohan Thakker, MRSD 2016
Working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA since graduating from MRSD, Rohan has been a major figure in the development of life-seeking snake robots inspired by the idea of a mission to Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus. He is the Autonomy Lead for the EELS project (Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor), a role which traces its roots to seeds of interest and inspiration planted many years prior.
From MRSD Student to Admissions Commitee: A 10-Year Journey
Kalyani Nirmal (MRSD 2014)
Discover the transformative journey of one MRSD graduate turned Admissions Committee member, as they reflect on a decade of industry experience and the impact of diverse perspectives on selecting the next cohort of robotics innovators. Read their insights in the full article below.
Robot(icists) Swarm
Leonardo Mouta (MRSD 2025)
“CMU doesn’t make it easy either: we tend to put our heart way too much in the work, missing out on many opportunities to see the world and the people around us. But MRSD is different. And that difference is all too often overlooked.”
Leo believes that MRSD’s uniquness as a graduate program comes from the amazing networking opportunities it provides. Check out what he has to say!
