Rodrigo Lobos
PhD in Electrical Engineering
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My advisor gave me one piece of advice that I always remember: "Life is too short to work with people who don't respect you". Maybe he used other words, but it was something similar.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
Coming to the United States by myself and starting a life far away from the support of my family and friends.
What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?
I bought an electric guitar! It was an impulse purchase, but it really helped me during the pandemic.
Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.
In very simple words, I use mathematics to improve images generated with MRI scanners. For me the whole research process behind new ideas is always exciting. What starts as an idea while you are having your morning coffee, is then converted into equations, then you test that idea in your computer, and then you implement that idea in a real MRI scanner. This process can take months, or even years, but nothing is invented and perfected at the same time.
If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?
High-school teacher. Teaching is one of my passions, and fortunately I had the opportunity to teach high-school students in the past. I'm very grateful for that time, where I was able to learn how to connect with the students to understand their needs. That is something that has really helped me as a TA during grad school.
What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?
My current advisor helped me from the very beginning, and he was very open about what working with him would be like. The potential research lines were fascinating, and the classes offered were exactly what I needed. All the faculties were world-class researchers, and I knew I was going to have the opportunity to learn from the best in my field.
If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?
The Grand Central Market is one of my favorite places in LA. You have food from all over the world, and it is such a nice experience. The Last Bookstore is another place that I always enjoy going to. The Art District is another good place to hang out with friends after a research week. All these places are 10 minutes driving distance from USC, so you're welcome!
What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?
I'm a caffeine addict, so having my morning coffee at the RTH cafeteria was part of my daily routine. People at that place knew me very well, and my coffee was ready before ordering it! I always had a laugh with the staff, and they helped me to distract my mind from research. At that place I also had profound and long conversations with my colleagues about research, which ended up turning into scientific publications. Some ideas written down in napkins turned into very cool inventions.
What's one thing about you that might surprise me?
I'm very into functional fitness and olympic weightlifting, and I try to practice them at least 5 times a week. They have helped me tremendously during my PhD, since you develop a mentality which is really useful for research. You have to be always pushing yourself, you have to be disciplined, and you have to execute everything with perfect technique. If you think about it, these are three principles that many researchers follow in science.
What are your plans after graduation?
I'll be applying to postdoc positions with the intention of continuing an academic career.
Hometown (city, country):
Santiago, Chile.
Personal Website (if any):
https://ralobos.github.io
Faculty Advisor:
