Class of 2023 Academic Updates

The 2021-22 Academic Year (AY) was a transition year. We are proud of our students for adapting to a face-to-face delivery mode for all official Georgia Tech classes. Dr. Eric Overby and Dr. Karthik Ramachandran teach our first-year students as a cohort, with the year culminating in a poster competition on April 25, 2022. Also, Scheller College majors (that are not ITM majors) take coursework with Dr. David Ku or Dr. John Cressler.

During the second year, pre-capstone and capstone courses permitted virtual meetings during those class times when students worked on their projects. This option enabled their corporate sponsors, MBA mentors, faculty, and staff to join their virtual meetings during those times. Some groups met in person while sponsoring a virtual meeting, while others decided to be 100% virtual during those times. This enhanced flexibility during capstone project meetings was well-received by all stakeholders. Also, for the first time, 100% of the capstone project deliverables were rated by their capstone sponsor as “Exceeded Expectations.”

Dr. Eric Overby teaches Analysis of Emerging Technologies, the first T&M Program cohort course each fall. The students learned a structured approach to analyzing an emerging technology. They applied that approach to several emerging technologies, including those related to artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, energy and transportation technologies, and more. This year’s class was energized to be back in the classroom full time.

Dr. Eric Overby teaching.

In Dr. Eric Overby's class, T&M Class of 2023 students Sanjana Balusu (computer science), Shumraze Fawad (industrial engineering), Meghana Gongalareddy (finance), Rubica Runton (biology), Ashley Smith (biomedical engineering), Isabella Turner (biomedical engineering), and Cindy Wei Zhou (IT management) presented to their classmates and Tempus Ex employees Annie Gerhart, Brandon Monteith, Sarah Kanik, and Julia Wilkins about augmented reality at live sporting events. After the student presentation, the Tempus Ex team exchanged ideas with them and the entire class.

Students discuss augmented reality at live sporting events with Tempus Ex employees. | Students present on the same topic.

Dr. Karthik Ramachandran teaches Product Development, the second T&M Program cohort course each spring. Both the professor and the student were excited to be in the classroom for a lively edition of the class. The students pushed themselves all around Atlanta working with nonprofits, startups, and small businesses, and advanced their product ideas for a successful showcase.

An audience of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents voted for the most creative projects and the ones most likely to have an impact. Team Habit Building won “Most Creative Project” (1st Place) and Team Baby Clothes won “Most Creative Project” (2nd Place). Team Work Attire won “Most Likely to Have Impact” (1st Place) and Team Mask Distribution won “Most Likely to Have Impact” (2nd Place).

Rubi Runton (biology) pitches to Dr. Karthik Ramachandran.

Team Habit Building – “Most Creative Project” (1st Place)

First row: Jennifer Duong (computer engineering) and Cindy Zhou (IT management) Second row: Dr. Han Zhang, Elizaveta Egorova (industrial design), Sofia Laskowski (finance), and Meghana Gongalareddy (finance).

Jennifer Duong writes, “For our project, we initially focused on how to help young children who take medication at school remember to take their medication. As we brainstormed different solutions, we realized the core of this problem was how to stick with a habit and decided we could extend our solution to anybody wanting to build any habit. While prototyping, we discovered that accountability from others helped people succeed with their habit the most. With this information, we designed a community-based habit-building app that rewards people for consistently doing their habit and connects them with friends so their friends can see their progress and encourage them along the way!”

Team Habit Building with their poster.

Team Baby Clothes – “Most Creative Project” (2nd Place)

Dr. Han Zhang, Kalieann Wetherington (marketing), Jacob Keenan (strategy and innovation), and Kate Moore (strategy and innovation).

Kalieann Wetherington writes, “Our group looked into how quickly babies grow out of their clothes, specifically in the first two years of life, resulting in many parents needing to buy new clothes every 2-3 months. After interviewing many parents and visiting a local children’s clothing consignment store, we discovered a gap in the market for providing low-cost, sustainable baby clothing that also appeals to traditionally popular clothing styles. Our final prototype is a form of smocked clothing that can be adjusted in key areas, such as shoulders and pant length, to help parents fit the clothing to their baby as they change sizes.”

Team Baby Clothes: Kate Moore (strategy and innovation), Kalieann Wetherington (marketing), John Igieobo (computer engineering), and Jacob Keenan (strategy and innovation).

Team Work Attire – “Most Likely to Have an Impact” (1st Place)

Dr. Han Zhang with Sarah Yang (biomedical engineering), Lindsey Mains (industrial engineering), Rubica Runton (biology), and Meah Konstanzer (IT management). Not pictured: Ashley Smith (biomedical engineering).

Rubica Runton writes, “Our group redefined the shopping experience to merge the benefits of shopping in person with the benefits of shopping online. Through research and interviews, we found that 91% of shoppers were not satisfied with the fit of their clothing, and they were disappointed with the lack of affordable options and the time required to shop, try on, and return items. So, we designed a product called Opus comprised of three stages to improve the user shopping experience.

First, a LiDAR scanner measures the user’s body to determine their size. Next, the size measurements are entered into the item selector GUI along with other user needs, such as price range, color, and fit. Finally, a clothing try-on experience, prototyped with the app Forma, allows the user to virtually try on clothing items on mannequins and a picture of their body to visualize fit. Opus, in the future, can be integrated with brand-specific measurements and item inventories to streamline the shopping process for shoppers and stores.”

Team Work Attire with their poster.

Team Mask Distribution – “Most Likely to Have an Impact” (2nd Place)

First Row: Malia Yuhl (biomedical engineering), Pearson Rackley (civil engineering), and Corinna Alting (environmental engineering). Second Row: Dr. Han Zhang, Caleb Yarbrough (finance), Adam Poteet (IT management), and Robert Ridgeway (finance).

Malia Yuhl writes, “For our project, we investigated the mask distribution process to buildings on campus at Georgia Tech in light of the pandemic. We witnessed disposable masks in classrooms become contaminated, wasted, or unreplenished. We identified an unmet need to replace them in a uniform manner across campus proactively. Our final prototype was a spring-loaded mask dispenser with a tissue box-like access point and fitted with a sensor measuring the number of masks left based on the extension of the spring. This information gets sent to a database that shows the percentage of masks left in various classrooms in real time, as well as the building managers overseeing those areas. This could automate reminders to put in new mask orders before they fully run out, making the lives of those currently involved in mask distribution much easier. And the concept can have many applications beyond just personal protective equipment!”

Malia Yuhl pitches her team’s project.