Michael Jakuba

Tell us about your work/research. What kinds of things do you do?

I build and operate robotic systems in service of oceanographic science. The robot we'll be using on this trip is called NUI and was built specifically to work under ice, and to give scientists access to the seafloor in places where conventional ROVs are difficult to operate. Here we'll be using NUI to develop and demonstrate some new technologies that are applicable across the field of marine robotics.

What sparked your initial interest in your career?

I worked as an undergraduate on the RoboTuna project --- a project whose goal was to figure out how fish swim as efficiently as they do, but creating a robot to mimic their motions in a controlled environment. The project introduced me to the field of marine robotics, and more importantly, to people working in the field.

What other jobs led you to your current career?

I've worked in marine robotics in various capacities---as a young engineer at Bluefin Robotics when it first spun out of MIT, as a graduate student at WHOI, as a post-doc in Sydney Australia, and then as an engineer back at WHOI.

What are your degrees and certifications?

PhD, MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering 2007; BS MIT Mechanical Engineering, 2000

What are your hobbies?

Raising my kids!

What advice would you give someone who wants to have a career like yours?

Take advantage of all the opportunities places like OET and WHOI provide for internships and fellowships. Get your foot in the door.