InternViews #7: Aida Batyr
InternViews is our weekly series where RIGI interns share their experiences, insights, and stories from their time in Stuttgart.
What inspired you to pursue studies/a career in your field?
A big part of my motivation has come from the people I have met along the way. I have met people who are incredibly intelligent, knowledgeable, and passionate about what they do, and who are working on things I could not even have imagined before. They became role models for me and inspired me to become someone who can also create meaningful things.
What made you apply to RIGI or want to work on a robotics related project?
I wanted to create something with my own hands and be an actual part of the creation process, not only study the theory behind it. I also believe that as engineers, we need hands-on experience to truly understand how things work.
Aida at the Capture Hall in MPI-IS Tübingen
What’s one surprising or unexpected thing you learned during your internship?
I learned that robots can decide to stop cooperating at absolutely the worst possible moment. Something can work perfectly one day, and the next morning the robot behaves completely differently or refuses to work – usually right before you are about to demonstrate it to your supervisors.
What was your favorite part of the RIGI program?
Definitely the research environment. I had never experienced an environment where people were so professional and genuinely dedicated to their projects. RIGI introduced me to a completely new side of research and showed me what it can be like to work around people who truly love what they do.
What do you like to do when you’re not researching, studying, or working?
I like reading fiction books and cooking. Both are good ways for me to completely switch off from work for a while.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time in Stuttgart?
One of my favorite memories is stargazing with friends I met there. The night sky was full of stars and felt so different from what I am used to seeing in Kazakhstan, and we even saw a couple of shooting stars and made wishes.
Aida with fellow RIGI interns at a trip in Paris
Which inanimate tool or piece of equipment you used in the lab would be the WORST roommate if it were human, and why?
Probably the long, curly wires. They would take up the whole room, get tangled everywhere, and somehow always manage to be exactly where you don’t want them to be.
What’s next for you after RIGI?
I want to continue exploring robotics and find the specific area I am truly passionate about. And after RIGI, I think I am finally starting to know what that area might be.
Any advice for future RIGI interns?
Take the internship seriously and try to make your supervisors’ lives easier, not harder. Be curious, take responsibility, and don’t be afraid to troubleshoot things, even if they spark sometimes.
