Ph.D. student earns Department of Defense scholarship
Nolan Gutierrez, a doctoral student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington, has received a prestigious Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
“This scholarship will help me pursue a more permanent career within the Department of Defense,” Gutierrez said. “I hope to work with my mentor and their team at the Army Research Lab to delve deeper into my research and propose my own projects that align with their research goals.”
Gutierrez will use the scholarship to build upon research he started last year during an internship with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, in the Army Research Lab. Specifically, he will focus on enhancing the adaptability of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras through multitask learning.
He will see if training a PTZ control system on a variety of motion profiles—such as square, circular, and straight-line movements, both forward and backward—will improve its adaptability and performance. This approach includes deploying a PTZ-equipped robot in scenarios that mimic real-world operational conditions relevant to the Army.
Gutierrez works with UTA computer science Assistant Professor William Beksi in the Robotic Vision Lab. He is Beksi’s second student in as many years to earn a SMART scholarship, following Minh (Jerry) Tram in 2023.
“Not only does Nolan's SMART scholarship strengthen the ties between the DEVCOM Army Research Lab and UTA, but it also shows UTA's commitment to train and provide the DoD with STEM Ph.D. graduates,” Beksi said.
SMART scholarship recipients earn full tuition, a significant annual stipend and a book and health allowance. They also complete a summer internship at a DoD facility and are assigned an experienced mentor. The full scholarship and other benefits allow participants to focus on complex research to further the DoD’s mission and create a lasting impact. The program is a one-for-one commitment: For every year of degree funding, the recipient commits to working for a year with the DoD as a civilian employee.
- Written by Jeremy Agor, College of Engineering