Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Robotics and Autonomous Systems (IRAS)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need for over 25000 robotics engineers by 2026 to meet market demands and job growth projections. Supported by a National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) grant (Award # 2244082: “Convergent Next-Generation Robotics Training: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Adaptive Design (NRT-LEAD) amid a Changing World of Work), WSU has established the innovative NRT-LEAD training program integrating engineering, computer science, applied psychology, and business to address these workforce and industry needs. Leveraging longstanding relationships with leading Washington state businesses and government agencies in the areas of fruit orchard automation, nuclear waste cleanup, and underwater operations, our NRT-LEAD program is educating NextGen engineers and scientists working at the interface of human-robotics technology.

Any current WSU graduate student can earn the IRAS graduate certificate as an NRT trainee through

• Completion of 10-credits of interdisciplinary and technical skills coursework
• Participation in at least 8 IRAS seminars
• Attendance and engagement at the annual Research Expo
• Completion of an immersive real-world field study experience

Additional mentoring, teaching, internship, technical conference participation, and community engagement opportunities will be offered to NRT all trainees. It is expected that NRT-trainees will participate in as many of them as possible.

IRAS Graduate Certificate Program Components

Coursework for the IRAS Certificate (10 credits total)

All NRT trainees will complete the required 10 credits of coursework for the Certificate in Interdisciplinary Robotics and Autonomous Systems. This consists of:

Interdisciplinary Coursework (Complete all: 4 cr. total)

Technical Skills Coursework (Select two: 6 cr. total)

Participation in IRAS Seminar Series

All NRT trainees will attend (either in person or virtually) at least 8 different seminars during their time in the program. At the beginning of each semester, the NRT-LEAD executive committee will identify appropriate seminar speakers for NRT trainees and fellows from different disciplines, including Biological Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

Attendance and Presentation at NRT Research Expo

NRT trainees are expected to actively participate in the annual NRT Research Expo, which will rotate annually among campuses. This dynamic and interactive event will provide a public speaking opportunity for students to showcase their research activities in front of an audience of academic mentors and their peers. Students will also have a poster display during the Expo. Both poster and oral presentations will help trainees to develop the necessary skills for public speaking, where they can not only talk about their cutting-edge research but also about the impact of their research on society and human life.  

Participation in Immersive Field Study

Three unique immersive field study experiences will be offered on a rotating basis to allow NRT trainees to gain a better understanding of the interface between the cutting-edge technology being developed in the lab with the business environment where these technologies are marketed and implemented alongside today’s workforce. NRT trainees are required to participate at least in one immersive field study during or prior to their funding period.

• Option 1: NRT trainees will examine job-related attitudes and behavioral reactions to working alongside NextGen robots in agricultural settings by collecting health, safety, and job attitudinal data from orchard workers to gain a more comprehensive grasp of psychological challenges that may otherwise impede the successful adoption of technological advancements.
• Option 2: NRT trainees will gather data regarding user needs and motivations, perform usability testing, and evaluate attitudinal and behavioral reactions to potential engineering design solutions with the goal of optimizing kinematics, dynamics, control, and planning of NextGen robots for the users.
• Option 3: NRT trainees will conduct a market case analysis related to biomimetic robots and write a business plan for implementing biomimetic robots in underwater applications such as search, rescue, sensing, or repair.   

Completion of Professional Development Activities

Trainees will work with their Faculty Advisors and the Program Coordinator to create an Individual Develop Plan (IDP) to identify their career aspirations, develop their degree plan, and adjust this as needed as trainees gain more exposure to more potential career paths through seminar/conference attendance, Expo experiences, internships, etc. NRT trainees will also be offered extensive professional development opportunities through WSU, the Graduate School, and GPSA  to further the academic, career, professional skill, and personal development of NRT trainees. NRT fellows will be required to participate in at least five different professional development activities over the first two years of their degree program.

How to Apply to NRT Trainee Program to Obtain IRAS Graduate Certificate

If you would like to earn a graduate certificate in IRAS, please contact the NRT-LEAD coordinator at (nrt.lead@wsu.edu) with your (a) current CV, (b) brief description of your graduate research, (c) one support letter from your primary advisor.