{"681973":{"#nid":"681973","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Fellowship Adds New Dimension to Manufacturing Career Path","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EReagan Cook stood at a career crossroads when her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering intersected with her recent master\u2019s in data analytics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe wanted to connect her experience in manufacturing with her burgeoning interest in data science but wasn\u2019t sure which way to turn. Then, she stumbled upon a job opportunity that brought both into one path forward: A fellowship focused on artificial intelligence in manufacturing through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\u0022\u003EPartnership for Inclusive Innovation\u003C\/a\u003E, or PIN.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI happened upon this fellowship and the vertical I landed on was AI in manufacturing, which was a good marriage of the two disciplines,\u201d said Cook, who began the one-year paid position over the summer. The PIN fellowship, part of Georgia Institute of Technology\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, places early career professionals into public and private opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fellowship is made possible through support from Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing, or \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\u0022\u003EGeorgia AIM\u003C\/a\u003E. Georgia AIM supports several PIN fellows each year through the AI in Manufacturing vertical. Participants spend six months working on a research project through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) and then six months with a partner company where they focus on a project that enhances the use of smart technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECook recently completed her first six-month rotation as a researcher with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003EMelkote Advanced Manufacturing Research Group\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, working with GTMI Associate Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/shreyes-melkote\u0022\u003EShreyes Melkote\u003C\/a\u003E. She is now in her next role at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/carbice.com\u0022\u003ECarbice\u003C\/a\u003E, an Atlanta semiconductor manufacturer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s the interesting part of the PIN fellowship: those accepted into the program gain experience in both the public and private sectors. Upon completing the program, fellows enter the workforce with a unique, innovative skillset that contributes to the emerging roles AI is creating in manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe PIN program also helps address a gap in the workforce. There is a growing need for professionals who understand AI and smart technologies, and the program\u2019s public\/private partnership provides useful training and experience to early career professionals who are eager to solve these challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Cook\u2019s case, her first job after college was with a small manufacturer doing engineering design and CAD work. Her role expanded a bit to accommodate her data analytics background while working on her master\u2019s degree practicum project. But due to the size of the company, her work returned to strictly engineering after she graduated. In contrast, through the PIN fellowship, Cook is working on developing machine learning models that can be used to search for parts in a database of CAD designs. This would allow manufacturers looking for CAD drawings or 3D models to find similar parts with designs already created, saving time by giving engineers a starting point. This research allows her to leverage both her analytics and engineering knowledge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I feel like I am learning a lot,\u201d said Cook. The research position allows her to apply theoretical knowledge from her master\u2019s degree in a research environment. \u201cThat\u2019s been very interesting and eye-opening. I\u2019m still early in my career and my only experience is fairly traditional corporate jobs, so working in the realm of the unknown is a different situation. With research, you\u2019re just exploring and have no assurances that what you\u2019re doing is going to work.\u0026nbsp;\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoving to Carbice for the second half of her fellowship adds another layer of learning, she added, because it\u2019s one thing to test out a theory in a lab; it\u2019s different when you are working for a company that needs to see results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWorking in the private sector allows you to identify and reality-check the needs of actual workplaces,\u201d she added. \u201cBecause sometimes you have a compelling idea and interesting research, but in a corporate setting, first, is it useful, and second, if it is useful, is it even something the industry wants or is willing to adopt?\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a paradox Cook will face not only during the second half of her fellowship, but also going forward in her career. The foundational experiences attained through the PIN fellowship will give Cook an edge as she moves into her next role. Many manufacturers are interested in adopting AI and smart technologies, but the challenge is in identifying problems to solve.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECook said she is confident the fellowship will give her new insights that can be beneficial to future employers. The program also offers networking opportunities and connections with respected professionals that will be beneficial in years to come, she added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s really good to have both the public and private perspectives. And because I\u2019ve worked in a couple different manufacturing environments, I\u2019m interested in how different my manufacturing rotation will be and if I can identify patterns, similar issues, or inefficiencies. And all that is useful knowledge to have,\u201d she said. \u201cFor me specifically, the content of this work is going to be very helpful in tying my whole resume together.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFor more details on the AI and Manufacturing-focused PIN fellowship supported by Georgia AIM, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/pin-fellowship\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Evisit the PIN website.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EReagan Cook\u0027s fellowship with the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation merges her mechanical engineering background with her passion for data analytics, offering unique insights into AI in manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Reagan Cook\u0027s fellowship with the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation merges her mechanical engineering background with her passion for data analytics, offering unique insights into AI in manufacturing."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-04-22 19:43:29","changed_gmt":"2025-04-22 19:50:04","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-08T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-03-08T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676908":{"id":"676908","type":"image","title":"reagan-cook-headshot.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERaegan Cook\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1745351036","gmt_created":"2025-04-22 19:43:56","changed":"1745351036","gmt_changed":"2025-04-22 19:43:56","alt":"Raegan Cook","file":{"fid":"260757","name":"reagan-cook-headshot.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/22\/reagan-cook-headshot.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/22\/reagan-cook-headshot.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":90179,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/22\/reagan-cook-headshot.jpeg?itok=F1voCwtW"}}},"media_ids":["676908"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-aim-wins-tech-good-award-technology-association-georgia","title":"Georgia AIM Wins Tech for Good Award from the Technology Association of Georgia"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-and-georgia-quick-start-partner-improve-manufacturing-training","title":"Georgia Tech and Georgia Quick Start Partner to Improve Manufacturing Training"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing-workforce-future","title":"Manufacturing the Workforce of the Future"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kristen.morales@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKristen Morales\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kristen.morales@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}