Sprouting

How do you know if you are the best at something? We’ll, one of the ways is continuous benchmarking against the best. One of my favorite places is Carnegie Mellon University. I am grateful and proud to have my son Alejandro Barillas study Mechanical Engineering there. I gives me an excuse to come on campus, work from amazing libraries and study centers, and talk about anything with the next generation of brilliant minds. With all my heart, I wish I could bring some of these resources back to Puerto Rico for I don’t find any difference in wanting to improve our world between students here and there. Young minds have the same hunger to learn everywhere. #Engineering #Stemeducation

Since my freshman year, I knew I wanted to inspire more girls to pursue engineering. Not only did I accomplish that goal, but I also became a role model in mechanical engineering something I will always be grateful for. Two years ago, as Outreach Manager I reestablish the in-person Mechanical Engineering Girl Day with AFIM - Assosiation of Females in Mechanical Engineering (UPRM). After leading this initiative for two years, from brainstorming to full event logistics, I had the honor of being invited as a panelist for this year’s closing session. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing familiar faces, past fellow engineering women, colleagues, and even young girls I once mentored; filled me with love and renewed my passion for engineering. It reminded me why I push forward every day: to inspire, and achieve my dreams. Thank you, AFIM, for always counting on me and for recognizing me as a role model in the engineering world.

Hey everyone! ?? Have you been curious about Machine Learning (ML) but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you want to dive deeper into AI concepts to begin to understand large language models and transformers? I’m excited to share that Sprouting is offering a live virtual Machine Learning course taught by Taylor Baum (MIT EECS graduate student & founder of Sprouting)! This course is designed for postgraduate professionals in technical industries who want to enhance their machine learning skills to excel in their roles. What you’ll get: - A hands-on, beginner-friendly intro to Machine Learning - Virtual classes at just $30 per session (~30 classes total) - Support available in Spanish (classes taught in English) If you’re looking to build real ML skills in a welcoming and accessible environment, this is for you! Sign up here. https://lnkd.in/ebunxYVJ Have questions? More details are available upon request. Reach out to [email protected]

Semester Update! ?? Tinkering – After David Biersach's introduction to MicroPython in January, I have been diving into hardware exploration—unscrewing various “black boxes” (including my silent-but-not-forgotten TV below) to understand what’s inside and see if they’re fixable. This curiosity is leading me deeper into embedded systems and discrete electronics. Moreover, with guidance from Sprouting’s experience, I’m developing an Arduino 101 course for undergraduates this semester. Excited to share what I’ve learned and introduce more students to the world of embedded programming! ?? Surface Science – On the other hand, in the wet lab, I’m designing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for contact angle goniometry at the Claribel Acevedo-Vélez Lab. Below is my first pilot droplet test on commercial Teflon—excited to explore more in the "hidden" realm of surfaces! ? Fútbol – Alongside my brother, Mateo Esteban Lisondo di Tada, MEDLIFE, and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez football team, we had the opportunity to lead drills and organize games for underserved kids in the community. It was an amazing experience giving back through our sport!

Thank you, Houston ?????! I recently had the honor of presenting at the Lunar and Planetary Institute LPSC 2025, where students and scientists from all over the world ?? get together to discuss the future of scientific exploration and share recent discoveries. My first conference at the LPSC as a presenter has allowed me to share my findings, receive feedback, and engage with peers in my field ???. I have also had the incredible opportunity to meet new scientists across the world focusing on a variety of areas, from mineralogy to Mars human exploration. Scientific creativity knows no bounds. If you are attending and would like to meet, send me a message. Stop by at the poster session tomorrow! As a Puerto Rican ????, it has been an honor to represent our research values and passion for radio here. Huge thanks to the LPSC ICONS cohort for sharing their drive for space exploration with me. I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to my mentor and co-mentor from JPL. To all of the APLers and JPLers I have met here, I appreciate the insightful conversations. Now, I’m looking forward to visiting NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center and experiencing the Artemis' enthusiasm in person ??????. #EuropaClipper #NASA #JPL #EuropaICONS #PuertoRico #UPR #LPSC #LSPC2025 #JSC

I'm excited to announce that I was selected to be an Ambassador for Sprouting Education! This is an incredible opportunity to give back to my community and teach future generations more about STEM. Feel free to comment or message me if you want to learn more or get involved!

Sprouting will be hosting a series of virtual classes in a program entitled Introduction to Machine Learning: From Regression to Transformers. This course will be taught by Sprouting Founder and MIT EECS Graduate Student Taylor Baum. We would like to gauge interest in such a program. Each class will be $30, with an application for a fee waiver given financial limitations. Please sign up so we can gauge interest. :) Thanks so much! https://lnkd.in/dVME_iaG

?? Sprouting is launching soon! Want to revisit content from past Sprouting events? Missed out and eager to explore on your own? We’re building a platform for high-quality, reusable STEM curriculum—ensuring broad and lasting access to engaging educational tools. We’re looking for early users to implement our lessons and shape the platform’s future. Sign up to explore: https://lnkd.in/egCzkFQj #Sprouting #STEM #EducationForAll #EdTech ?Te gustaría revisar el contenido de eventos anteriores de Sprouting? ?Te lo perdiste y quieres explorarlo por tu cuenta? Estamos creando una plataforma con currículum STEM de alta calidad y reutilizable, asegurando un acceso amplio y duradero a herramientas educativas atractivas. Buscamos usuarios iniciales para implementar nuestras lecciones y ayudar a dar forma al futuro de la plataforma. Regístrate para explorar: https://lnkd.in/egCzkFQj #Sprouting #STEM #EducaciónParaTodos #EdTech

Are you an undergraduate or recent graduate aspiring to pursue a career in research neuroscience or cognitive science? If so, I highly recommend applying to MIT's Research Scholars program! This program is a two-year, fully funded post-baccalaureate program at MIT, sponsored by the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the McGovern Institute for Brain Research and the?Picower Institute for Learning & Memory.?The program is designed to?provide fair and equitable access to top-tier research experiences for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional academic potential in the fields of brain and cognitive science and neuroengineering despite facing significant hardships. Participants will conduct cutting-edge supervised research in a lab at MIT, and will have the opportunity to take courses at MIT, while gaining the knowledge and experience necessary to become competitive PhD applicants and successful graduate students. Additionally, participants receive a highly competitive stipend, health benefits and tuition remission. The experiences and knowledge I have been able to acquire through this program have been nothing short of exceptional and I cannot recommend it enough! The application is now live here: https://lnkd.in/et7dCiHz The deadline is February 15th, 2025 and applicants will be informed of their results by April 15th, 2025. I hope you guys apply, and good luck to those who do! #MIT #ResearchScholars #PostBaccalaureate

?? Calling all Latino/Hispanic/Latinx students! I’m thrilled to share an incredible opportunity for graduating high school seniors: the Microsoft HOLA Scholarship! ?? This year, the program will award five scholarships totaling $85,000: ?? Three (3) $20,000 scholarships distributed over four years ($5,000 annually, renewable). ?? Ten (10) $2,500 one-time scholarships. ?? Deadline to apply: March 13, 2025 If you or someone you know is interested in applying, make sure to check out the eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and application process here: https://lnkd.in/dqntZce3 ?? Note: Microsoft employees and their children are not eligible. A huge shoutout to the HOLA Worldwide ERG and the incredible v-team for making this program a reality while balancing their day-to-day responsibilities. ?? Let’s spread the word! Share this opportunity with your community and help us support the next generation of Latinos in tech, STEM, and beyond. #Microsoft #MicrosoftScholarshipProgram #HOLA #LatinosInTech #STEMStudents #LatinasInTech #HOLAatMicrosoft