AI4OPT PhD students from Georgia Tech (GT), the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and the University of Southern California (USC) gathered at Georgia Tech on April 1, 2025, for a Student Day.

Kicking Off with a 3-Minute Research Pitch Competition

The day started with a 3-Minute Research Pitch competition. Students were invited to showcase their research in a 3-minute presentation for judges from varying backgrounds who selected first, second, and third place winners. Those winners received prizes and their presentations were recorded by Georgia Tech videographers. Junyang Cai (USC) received the prize for first place, Joe Ye (GT) second place, and Rosie Kim (GT) third place.

Gaining Entrepreneurial Insights from CREATE-X

After the competition, students attended a session on entrepreneurialism with Rahul Saxena, director of CREATE-X and associate director for LAUNCH at Georgia Tech. CREATE-X is a Georgia Tech initiative designed to instill entrepreneurial confidence in students and empower them to launch successful startups through experiential education, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

Building Leadership Skills on the High Ropes Course

After lunch, students participated in the Leadership Challenge High Ropes Course at Georgia Tech. They were led through ground and aerial activities designed to enhance leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, productivity, and communication skills.