Hi there — I'm Ethan Villalovoz. I recently graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Computer Science from Washington State University, and I'm now beginning my M.S. in Computer Science at Georgia Tech, specializing in Computational Perception and Robotics. Over the last few years, I've explored the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and human-AI collaboration — from NIH fellowships and academic research, to internships at places like Google and Meta, and summer research at Carnegie Mellon.
This blog is my space to reflect, share, and explore what I'm learning — not just the polished projects, but the in-between stages: the late-night debugging sessions, the research rabbit holes, the career crossroads, and the small wins that keep you moving.
You can expect posts about:
- •Building AI tools and full-stack projects (with plenty of trial and error)
- •Lessons learned from research in reinforcement learning, LLMs, and robotics
- •Behind-the-scenes of academic fellowships, internships, and grad school life
- •Advice for undergrads — especially those from under-resourced schools — who want to break into research or big tech
- •Occasional personal reflections on identity, resilience, and navigating this space as a first-gen student
I'm building this blog not just as a record of my path, but as a place to give back — because I know how hard it is to find guidance when you're figuring this all out for the first time. If my writing helps even one student believe they can make it too, it's worth it.
Thanks for stopping by — and if any of this resonates with you, I'd love for you to stick around. Feel free to connect with me on: