On October 14, Beijing Time, Xiaoyang Zhan (Shawn), a 2021 alumnus, delivered an online sharing session titled “Studying at Carnegie Mellon University — Exploration and Decision-Making from 0 to 1 in the Age of Robotics and AI” to students of the college.

Shawn enrolled in the Sichuan University – Pittsburgh Institute in 2017, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in the “2+2” dual-degree program, continuing his education at the University of Pittsburgh in the United States, where he also minored in Computer Science. After graduation, he was successfully admitted to the Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. During his graduate studies, he developed a profound interest in robotics and related fields. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

During the sharing session, Shawn used his personal story as a narrative thread to describe how he gradually discovered and solidified his passion for robotics. He then engaged with the audience on current hot topics in “robotics” and “AI,” sharing his perspectives and outlook on future trends. Finally, drawing from his own experience, he provided a detailed account of the application process for both master’s and doctoral programs, along with practical advice and key considerations.

Later on, Shawn outlined his core recommendations for undergraduate planning: boldly explore different directions to discover personal interests; actively engage in hands-on practice and cultivate reflective learning through experience; and develop the ability for rapid self-directed learning. He advised students in computer science-related majors not to overly fixate on programming languages and syntax, but rather to focus on understanding the underlying ways of thinking — to “learn to think like a robot.” Regarding doctoral studies, he shared his thought process behind choosing to pursue further academic training and reminded those considering a Ph.D. to mentally prepare for the challenges of repetition and failure inherent in research. He emphasized that self-reflection and perseverance are crucial, and that self-learning ability is a core competency throughout one’s academic journey, encouraging everyone to develop a habit of lifelong learning.

As a continuation of the online session, on October 24 Eastern Time, Shawn also led a group of junior students currently studying in the United States on a guided tour of his laboratory. They engaged in in-depth discussions with faculty members and doctoral researchers on topics related to professional development and research planning.