Shalini Agrawal’s Journey in Robotics from “Scratch”
Portrait of Shalini Agrawal. Photo sourced from LinkedIn.
Shalini Agrawal, MS’26, robotics, works as a robotics software engineer co-op at Orpheus Ocean, where she’s applying the state estimation and sensor integration skills she developed at Northeastern’s Field Robotics Lab. After graduation, she plans to bring her hands-on experience to industry, advancing autonomous robotics systems at scale.
Shalini Agrawal is pursuing a master’s degree in robotics at Northeastern. During her undergraduate studies in mechanical engineering at COEP Technological University in India, she discovered an interest in robotics that augmented her work in system design. She adjusted her coursework to pursue a medical robotics project focused on automating the alignment of fractured femur bones. The project used a parallel robotic system combined with CT scan imaging to help reposition femoral shaft fractures—a process called fracture reduction.
Shalini visited Universal Robots during her summer in Denmark. Courtesy Photo.
During her masters, Shalini attended the International Elite Summer School in Robotics and Entrepreneurship in Denmark. Among a group of fifty international students, she was introduced to different fields where robotics can be applied. They visited companies like Universal Robots, Lego, and Danfoss where automation is involved in solving a multitude of challenges. Shalini enjoyed connecting with other like-minded people, commenting, “I loved talking to people from different parts of the world, learning from them and sharing my knowledge.”
While exploring master’s programs, Shalini was drawn to Northeastern for its array of concentrations within the robotics degree—especially being able to choose the electives that interested her after completing the core requirements. During orientation, Shalini was impressed with how well-maintained the robotics labs are, as well as captivated by the pace of projects within the labs. She appreciated the welcoming environment at Northeastern, commenting, “at Northeastern, you can just walk in [to a lab] and tell them what you’re interested in, and people will welcome you to work on projects.”
Field Robotics Lab and more
Before joining the Field Robotics Lab, she worked on a few projects based on sensor fusion algorithms, state estimation, and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). This research focused on enabling the robot to read its environment and understand its relative space within that environment. Additionally, earlier in her master’s, Shalini worked on computer vision projects under the guidance of the MS in robotics program director and electrical and computer engineering professor, Hanumant Singh.
Shalini working on a robot in the Field Robotics Lab. Courtesy Photo.
Shalini’s research focuses on state estimation—the process autonomous systems use to determine their position and orientation within their environment. Her work integrates data from multiple sensors to improve robots training, ultimately enabling robots to complete tasks autonomously.
Drawing from her experience at the Field Robotics lab, Shalini advises prospective students to build a solid foundation in mechanics and hardware before diving into software. She believes this grounding better prepares students for practical problem-solving in robotics, where understanding the physical system is essential for writing effective code.
Shalini credits her research and class projects with providing her with a marketable skill set. Specifically, she cites Mobile Robotics and Robotics Science and Systems for helping deepen her understanding and knowledge on path planning algorithms and the use of different sensors that support state estimation. Additionally, her current co-op as a robotics software engineer at Orpheus Ocean has given her practical skills for the robotics field. As she puts it, “the fast-paced action of working at a startup has allowed me to improve my troubleshooting and multitasking capabilities.” She hopes to land a job in a similar role after she completes her degree.
Endings and new beginnings
As she nears the end of her master’s program, Shalini reflects on how far she’s come. She arrived at Northeastern with little robotics experience, essentially learning the field “from scratch.” Now, thanks largely to the hands-on research experience she’s gained, she feels confident in her knowledge and capabilities.
Shalini (left) next to Gregory Abowd (right) at the Robotics Gala. Courtesy Photo.
Shalini values her work with her mentor, Professor Hanumant Singh. When she approached him in May 2025 seeking summer research opportunities, he immediately brought her onto his projects. He also recommended her for the MIT Robotics Gala, where she connected with other women in the field and built a valuable professional community. In his teaching, Singh shares examples from his own research career, which has inspired Shalini’s career ambitions.
Through Professor Singh’s mentorship, she also met the Dean of the College of Engineering, Gregory Abowd, who became an important source of encouragement and motivation throughout her master’s program.
After completing her master’s, Shalini plans to pursue industry experience, where she aims to advance robotics in meaningful ways. While she’s considering a PhD in the future, she wants to gain four to five years of practical experience first—building on the foundation she’s established at Northeastern and contributing to real-world robotic systems before potentially returning to academia.