From neuroscience to AI: How Wayne State helped Jaideep Siva Senthil launch a career in robotics

DETROIT - When Jaideep Siva Senthil walked across the stage to receive his master's degree from the Wayne State University James and Patricia Anderson College of Engineering this past May, it marked the culmination of a bold journey - one that began in neuroscience and ended with a dream job in artificial intelligence.

At the June 26 Board of Governors meeting, Senthil shared his journey with the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, crediting Wayne State's career services team and the university's College to Career initiative as pivotal to his success. Now a machine learning engineer at Torc Robotics, developing autonomous trucking systems, Senthil represents the very heart of Wayne State's Prosperity Agenda: preparing students to thrive in their careers and communities from day one.

"Career Services was huge for me," said Senthil, who graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in 2018. "As an international student, I didn't have a strong professional network, and I was making a complete switch from neuroscience to engineering. They helped me find my footing and ultimately guided me toward the opportunity that shaped my career path."

When Senthil first arrived at Wayne State in 2023, he was transitioning from a neuroscience background at Michigan State University. Drawn to artificial intelligence and Wayne State's new industrial engineering program - of which he was a member of the inaugural cohort - Senthil quickly discovered the challenges many students face, especially international students navigating career pathways without a built-in support network or clear direction.

That's where Wayne State's reimagined career services stepped in.

Vice Provost for Partnerships and Workforce Christine Jackson, Ph.D., has helped lead the university's proactive approach to embedding career readiness early and often.

"Our goal is to deliver personalized, holistic support that empowers students from their first semester," she said. "We know that early intervention and career engagement are critical to long-term student success, particularly for students who arrive without access to personal networks or industry connections."

Senthil believes that tools like the College to Career maps will be key to helping future students build career-ready skills, gain meaningful experience, and connect with opportunities in their chosen fields. They are tools that students can easily view career opportunities available to them, including additional information for each possible job in a particular career path.

"They help students see their future path," Senthil noted. "I wouldn't have known about research opportunities if not for Career Services. It's how I ended up working in the Rehab Robotics and Biomechanics on AI models for stroke rehabilitation" with E. Peter Washabaugh, Ph.D., an assistant professor in biomedical engineering.

Senthil also worked for Career Services during his time on campus, a job he originally took for "pocket change" - but which grew into a meaningful mentorship role.

"I learned that too many students wait too long to start thinking about their careers. I wanted to change that," he said.

His passion led him to co-found the AI club at Wayne State, giving students of all backgrounds a space to explore, build, and learn.

Beyond classes and research, Senthil challenged himself through pitch competitions, hackathons, and professional development courses. Inspired by the advice from Career Services, he used platforms including LinkedIn to track his growth and benchmark himself against others in the industry.

Now, just weeks into his role at Torc Robotics' new Ann Arbor branch, Senthil is paying it forward.

"My journey wasn't linear, but I just want other students to have the opportunity where they can get help," he said, "and it honestly makes a huge difference in their trajectory in their professional lives."