Hello! I’m Sylvia Cressman, a second year masters student in Controls, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. I am originally from Ohio and came to Finland to pursue a masters in hopes of expanding my engineering and cultural knowledge. I have greatly enjoyed my time so far here at Aalto as I have had the opportunity to study many interesting topics from machine learning to sensor applications to neurorobotics as well as been able to meet and work with people from all over the world. I am currently pursuing my thesis with the Intelligent Robotics Lab here on campus and am focusing on using reinforcement learning for coadaptation on robots in the real world.
In 2022 I finished my degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University where I graduated magna cum laude after being supported on a full cost of attendance scholarship through the Eminence Fellows merit scholarship program. I originally chose to study mechanical engineering due to the wide range of applications in which it was involved in. During my undergraduate studies I grew interests further in mechatronics and product design. Even with my degree as mechanical engineering, I always had an interest in robotics and computer science fields as I started programming robots at 11 years old. This is why after receiving scholarship support, I decided to pursue my interests in these fields and my love for experiencing new cultures with my masters degree program at Aalto University.
This past summer I was able to work at Intel as a process engineering graduate intern on their lithography team. I developed a control limits application to help with setting up an alarm system for their resist tracks tools. Previously I also was an engineering intern for Boeing on their 787 plane production team. On this team I was able to design a new tool to help build planes and learn about all the intricacies of plane production. Previously, I’ve worked at Goodyear at their headquarters in Akron, Ohio as a global engineering intern on the innovation team. I worked in the process development center where I helped to design and advance the robots/technology behind the tire production. You can learn more about these experiences on my past projects page. On campus at Ohio State, I was a member of the smart materials and ultrasonic additive manufacturing research lab on campus where I work under Dr. Dapino to help develop and test new smart materials and ultrasonic manufactured materials. I pursued an undergraduate research thesis on developing a lightweight, self-powered wind vehicle sensor system. At the end of my senior year, I successfully wrote and orally defended my thesis. I’ve also served as a TA for ME 2900 a mechanical engineering mechatronic design course. Now I am a research assistant here at Aalto in the Intelligent Robotics lab. After graduating my goal is to work in my field pursuing all of my passions for engineering, entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability.
Outside of the classroom I am passionate about encouraging girls to pursue STEM. I have been a leader of women in engineering clubs since high school and am continuing with my involvement in Society of Women in Engineering (SWE). As an organization, SWE allows me to meet, engage, and gain support from other women in engineering in the community. Since coming to college I have also gotten involved with hackathons and makeathons where I am able to take my tech ideas and bring them to life. I enjoy the creative freedom events like this allow me to have. Outside of these engineering organizations you can also find me playing the violin in a community orchestra at Aalto!
When I am not in class or at an organization event, I enjoy hiking, running, skiing, playing board games, and traveling! I have visited all 50 states!
Contact Me: sgrcressman@gmail.com