The MassRobotics Jumpstart Fellowship Program was created in 2021 to provide diverse Massachusetts high school girls with opportunities to learn technical skills and build a foundation for future STEM careers in robotics. Students also develop their professional networks through direct engagement with industry professionals. The program consists of three equally important components: Technical Skills, Mentorship & Networking, and Internships.
The five-month program provides a curriculum to learn technical skills, including design, programming, fabrication, and electronics. The students are exposed weekly to mentors and professional networking workshops and offered summer internships in local robotics and technology companies to gain real-world experience.
Now in its sixth year, hosted in Boston, we have served over 100 high school girls! The public school vacation week (February 16-20) focused on robotics, manufacturing, research, and visits to tech companies. We were fortunate to have so many amazing organizations and companies offer to host and speak with our students. The Fellows learned firsthand about what it was like to work at these companies and about a variety of career paths.
Each unique visit in and around the Greater Boston area showcased women in technical careers, from leaders in Academia to leaders in industry implementing global change.
DAY 1
The sixth cohort began with a visit to Harmonic Drive, a sponsor of MassRobotics, which has been manufacturing high-precision gears and actuators for over 50 years. Their US headquarters in Beverly hosted the Jumpstart Boston cohort for a walkthrough of their manufacturing facility, and students learned about the products Harmonic Drive supports, including robots, satellites, and even space rovers. Students walked away with a broader understanding of how they could apply the study of engineering to a future career.
Students visited SmartSKN AI for the first time this year, where they explored the exciting intersection of skincare and robotics.
SmartSKN AI is leading the charge in AI-driven personalization, transforming how we approach skincare with technology that adapts, evolves, and empowers. By crafting each product based on real-time skin data, their innovative approach meets the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly solutions, paving the way for a more sustainable future in the beauty industry.
During the visit, Val Neicu, Co-Founder & CEO, and McKenna Doremus, Lab Manager, spoke with students about building a business from the ground up and shared their journey as founders of this growing startup.
DAY 2
GreenSight is a founding partner of the Jumpstart Fellowship and has continued to play a significant role in initiating the program as well as hiring 3-4 Jumpstart interns per year. Fellows were excited to have the chance to experience drones that are big and small, flying solo or with a swarm.
Northeastern EXP offers leading-edge research facilities and modern, multifunctional spaces where students, staff, and faculty can turn ideas into reality. Tom Lutz, Lab Manager of EXP, provided a tour of the facility, sharing insights about current research, answering questions about projects and future possibilities, and most importantly giving the Jumpstart Fellows time to work with robots in the space.
This hands-on experience helped sustain their interest and allowed their curiosity to expand through exploration and experimentation. Northeastern is the second most attended university among our Fellows, so it was especially meaningful to provide them with exposure to this environment, one that may very well become their future learning ground.
DAY 3
At the Analog Garage, students were invited to an in-depth engagement in which the Fellows learned about all the wonderful employees and their career journeys. They were split into three groups to see where pioneer breakthrough technologies are researched and built. This is where engineers, data scientists, hardware and software professionals create new technologies and solutions in a fast-moving, idea-driven startup atmosphere.
The students visited WSP’s Boston office, where they learned about structural engineering in everything from bridges and subways to buildings and wind energy. They learned how to use renderings and the use of augmented reality to explore their projects. The new Fellows were excited to learn about all the different projects past Fellows worked on. Thanks to WSP for hiring 2 Jumpstart interns a year for the past couple of years!
The Fab Foundation and the Center for Bits and Atoms at the MIT Media Lab hosted our Fellows for a tour of the Super Fab Lab and adjacent research spaces. During the visit, Fellows gained a deeper look into creating machines that make, while exploring how to push their own ideas to more imaginative and expansive levels. This immersive experience invited them to envision themselves working in environments that cultivate both deep technical expertise and bold creative exploration. Special thanks to Sherry Lassiter and Quentin Bolsee for making this opportunity possible.
DAY 4
A day at Shell TechWorks kicked off with a powerful panel of professional women from Shell, who shared what inspired them to pursue careers in sustainability, what a typical workday looks like, their career highs and lows, and the skills and advice they believe are essential for success.
Fellows then toured the open work environment, participated in a quick session on refining and sharing their elevator pitches, and transitioned into lunch—where they enjoyed headshots and meaningful conversations with Shell employees. Questions ranged from current projects and career paths to what matters most on a résumé.
The day concluded with a hands-on workshop led by Rob focused on résumés, interviewing, and negotiating in the workplace. Throughout the experience, the girls gained invaluable professional insights and a clearer roadmap, making the career journey feel more approachable and achievable.
Thank you to Rob, Ellen, Mary, and everyone at Shell TechWorks for an inspiring and impactful day
DAY 5
We officially launched into our first of six SOLIDWORKS lessons with Rachael Naoum on Friday, and they’re already off to an amazing start. The Fellows are coming into this with a wide range of experience in SOLIDWORKS and are working incredibly hard to strengthen and expand their skills as we continue into more sessions in the coming weeks. Thank you, Rachael, as always, for your guidance and expertise!
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Throughout the visits, the Fellows asked more questions as the week progressed. What began with some hesitation quickly turned into growing confidence as they became more comfortable engaging with professionals and exploring new environments. By the end of the week, they were asking thoughtful questions and gaining valuable insight into potential future career paths.
Welcoming the Fellows into these spaces allowed them to see themselves belonging there. Thank you to our incredible ecosystem partners for opening your doors and sharing your technologies, expertise, and operations with the Jumpstart Fellows. If you are interested in hosting Jumpstart students as interns, please fill out this form