Oluwatobi Kushimo

Oluwatobi Kushimo is a mechanical engineering doctoral student from Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Hometown: Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

High School: Apostolic Faith Secondary School

Year: Expected graduation: 2029

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
From the age of 5, I have been fascinated with electronic devices and machines, so I wanted to be an engineer. It was a choice between aeronautical engineering and mechatronics/robotics engineering. I am currently pursuing a doctorate in mechanical engineering in this specialization. I also have a bachelor's degree in electronic and electrical engineering.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
My major is mechanical engineering, with specialization in control, dynamics and robotics. I decided to study this to gain more experience and background in robotics engineering.

Have you conducted your own research through Research Rookies, Honors capstones or theses or any other faculty-guided research opportunity?
Yes

Tell us about the research you are doing and why it interests you.
My current research is on crowd dynamics and robotics. It is a multi-university project with collaborators from the University of Virginia and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The research involves trying to understand human crowd movement and behavior under stressful situations (such as fire emergencies and evacuations). This research interests me because there is the capability to create models to define this behavior and hopefully inform decisions that will improve situations such as these. Also, it is interesting to collect this data and make it available for so many others across different fields. This video shows the research I am involved in.

How has conducting research strengthened your education and experience at NIU?
Conducting research at NIU has helped me develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Also, I have had to improve my communication skills, as I've worked with so many volunteer participants during recruitment and experimenting. My programming skills have also improved, and I have learned new tools to help my career as a roboticist. Conducting research that relates to real-world scenarios has helped connect the work in the classroom, understanding how conceptual ideas, theories and equations can be used to solve real-world problems.

How will your research experience help you in the future?
I have always wanted to apply my intellectual capacity to solving problems that can benefit humanity and make the world a better place, and I believe the experience gained from my research provides me the platform and foundation to do just that. With the experience I gain in providing answers to important questions for cases in emergency evacuations, search and rescue, etc., I can prepare myself for a future where I change the world.

Who at NIU has been important to your success doing research and why?
Dr. Sachit Butail, my research advisor, has been very instrumental to my journey in NIU. He is a professor who has helped me improve my approach and understanding of research, and under his tutelage I have grown, and continue to grow, as a researcher.

What advice would you give to an incoming student as it relates to research at NIU?
Be organized with your research work, taking notes and asking important questions. And make sure you are effective with your time management. It is also important to know when to take breaks and relax.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I've been surprised at how helpful and friendly the professors and community at NIU have been.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
It is common to create Discord channels for specific classes to share study resources and ask/attend to questions.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The Graduate School has helped me with information to help navigate my program and settle in nicely. The Network of Nations has also helped me feel welcome and connect with the community of international students and scholars here at NIU.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
Dr. Brianno D. Coller has been one of my favorite professors because of his detailed and hands-on approach toward teaching complex concepts. His practical approach to teaching MEE 620 Advanced Dynamics was very interesting and helped me grasp the theoretical concepts faster.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Attending classes regularly has helped me to build broad knowledge of my focus area and improve my understanding of control theory and robotics fundamentals, which are most definitely useful for my research and also for a career beyond graduate school.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
The Recreation Center is the favorite spot on campus for me, because I like to pay attention to my fitness and health as much as any other aspect of my life. And it provides me with an environment to train my body and mind and release stress.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
Try to improve your profile by engaging in extracurricular or volunteer experiences you love to do, attain good grades, and build both technical skills and soft skills.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education and Ph.D. degree are important to me as they provide me the avenue to grow to be a top professional in my field of interest and allow me to do innovative research in the areas I am most passionate about.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
Discipline is the most important part of time management, and only when you have discipline can you implement any strategy effectively. I use a pomodoro timer for completing tasks, and I try to clear away every distraction when I'm attending to the tasks I set. Note cards, sticky notes and reminders also help with remembering and highlighting tasks that are time-bound.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I pay attention to the weekly newsletters and look out for posts from NIU social media accounts.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I play soccer and go to the gym to relax or recharge and rid myself of any built-up stress. To recharge, I talk to God in prayer, because He is the source of my strength.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
My hobbies are playing soccer, reading books, watching movies and making/listening to gospel music.