What first attracted you to the field of Engineering?
Since childhood, I loved tinkering with gadgets and became the family’s go-to technician. A family member that studied Telecommunications Engineering introduced me to waves and signals, inspiring me to follow the same path. During my studies, I discovered the beauty of programming – I was amazed by how a few lines of code could create or solve almost anything. But the real turning point came when I was introduced to computer vision. With the ubiquity of technology in our society, I realised how much potential there was to improve people’s lives by harnessing it. Since then, I’ve focused on computer vision and machine learning, driven by the goal of bridging the gap between research and practical applications to benefit society.
What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about Engineering?
One common misconception is that engineering is limited to specific technical fields, like mechanical or electrical engineering. In reality, engineering is at the core of everything we do, especially in areas like computer science. The power of engineering lies in its ability to design, optimise, and bring ideas to life, whether it’s in hardware, software, or the systems that connect them. Engineering is what transforms ideas into reality, allowing technology to evolve and impact our lives in meaningful ways.
What's the biggest mystery in science you'd love to solve or see solved?
One of the biggest mysteries I’d love to see solved is how we can achieve truly human-like perception and reasoning in AI. While we’ve made great progress in computer vision and AI’s ability to recognise patterns and generate content – like images, text and music – human perception is far more complex. We understand context, infer meaning, apply abstract reasoning and adapt to new situations, which current AI still struggles to match.
I’m particularly interested in how AI can develop a flexible, generalisable understanding of the world, moving beyond recognition and generation to include reasoning across different domains and contexts. This challenge lies at the intersection of machine learning, computer vision and cognitive science. Solving it could lead to AI systems that interact with the world in ways that mirror human adaptability.
However, as we advance AI, it’s essential to ensure that ethical considerations, such as fairness, transparency and bias, are addressed. The design of these systems will have lasting impacts, and it’s crucial that they benefit society and foster trust.
What advice would you give to someone considering studying Engineering?
My advice is to dive in with curiosity and an open mind. The first few years will give you a solid foundation in the core principles, and it’s important to approach them with an eagerness to understand how things work. Engineering is about problem-solving and creativity, so embrace the challenges and persist. Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes – they’re part of the learning process. This field is incredibly rewarding when you see the impact of your work on the world.
What do you do in your spare time?
I’m all about music, it’s my go-to way to unwind. I also enjoy hiking and exploring new places, especially if there’s good food involved.