Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter: April 21st, 2025
Jacobs Institute Student Newsletter
UPCOMING@JACOBS
Jacobs Institute-organized events, news, and announcements—straight from the source.
"Data Are Made, Not Found”
Wednesday, April 23rd, 5-6 pm PT
Attend in person at Jacobs Hall 310.
danah boyd is a Partner Researcher at Microsoft Research and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Georgetown University. Her research focuses on the intersection of technology and society, with an eye to how structural inequities shape and are shaped by technologies.
DEADLINE THIS SUNDAY!
Makerspace made? Show your individual, club and research projects at the 2025 Jacobs Spring Design Showcase!
Exhibition sessions are a minimum of 90 minutes long, and are "show and tell," science fair-style at a table. You can choose May 8 or May 9. Through exhibiting you’ll have a chance to 1) user test and 2) receive valuable feedback, and 3) make friends and connections. Apply here by April 20, 2025.
OPSEC: Protecting Your Privacy in a Data Driven World
Friday, April 25, 10-11:30 AM
Jacobs Design Specialist Chris Parsell leads this free workshop. Explore how your data is collected, used and the risks it can pose. Learn how to opt out, secure your devices and take back control of your digital presence. Open to all.
DRAFT 4-6 PAGE PAPERS DUE 4/25; POSTERS & DEMOS DUE 5/23
The International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces (ISAM) 2025
The Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation and UC Berkeley are the proud hosts of the 9th annual International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces (ISAM) 2025 this coming August 6-8, 2025. Over a span of 3 days, 300+ faculty, staff, student, and industry leaders from across the globe will gather to share makerspace knowledge, experience and inspiration in order to maximize impact on the student learning experience and alumni success. Have knowledge to share? The Call for Papers, Posters and Demonstrations is open now! Find out more & register to attend at https://isam2025.hemi-makers.org.
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES DIGEST
non-Jacobs Institute-affiliated events, opportunities, and programs—at your fingertips.
Innovation in Period Product Workshop
April 24, 5-7pm | UC Berkeley School of Public Health | More info and RSVP here
Get ready to get busy with your hands because this is going to be an evening for a sustainable period product workshop! With materials and step-by-step instructions provided, you will get to know how to make a product comfortable, safe, leak-free, and sustainable. We have speakers who have launched their own products to share their journey (and to get crafty) with you, over 50 brands representing the sustainable period product landscape, and yummy bites for hungry bellies.
DIY Materials and Instructions: Learn how to create your own pads and cups with our hands-on DIY sessions.
Talk from the Founder of Papaya Pads: Gain insights from the founder of Papaya Pads on making pads comfortable and compostable.
Exhibit of Menstrual Product Innovations: Explore 30+ menstrual product innovations that are reshaping how we think about periods, with local and international companies.
Vegan Bites: Enjoy delicious vegan snacks that align with our commitment to environmental sustainability.
Collider Cup XVI
May 9, 1-4 p.m.
Banatao Auditorium, UC Berkeley
Join us at SCET’s Collider Cup, where top student teams pitch their projects to professors, investors, and industry experts for a chance to win the grand prize!
Learn more about the event at SCET Collider Cup.
Mechanical Engineering Internship at SirenOpt
Join SirenOpt as a Mechanical Engineering intern starting this May/June until December 2025. As an intern, you will play an integral role in the R&D and production of our revolutionary plasma-based metrology products that have sparked committed interest from globally-renowned manufacturing companies. This role is on-site in Oakland, CA. You can find a job description for the role here. Please send your resume to rafi.h...@sirenopt.com if you’re interested. Also visit our website https://www.sirenopt.com/ to learn more about what we do!
Intelligent Systems Engineer (Part-Time)
Job Description:
eTopus is looking for highly motivated, collaborative, and articulate engineers. As an Intelligent Systems
Engineer, you will have the opportunity to design and implement advanced intelligent solutions that
enhance the operational productivity of various departments across the company. This is a unique
chance to apply your skills in real-world industrial settings, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and
gain experience working on practical applications of intelligent systems in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities:
• Work with different teams (R&D, Operations, Sales, etc.) to improve workflows and efficiency of
company operations.
• Build smart internal tools using large language models (LLMs) and AI techniques.
• Write Python code to automate tasks; develop user interfaces; and deploy AI applications across
the company.
• Deploy and improve tools based on team feedback and usage.
Basic Requirements:
• Studying Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• Strong interest in using AI to improve work productivity.
• Good Python skills
• Experience with AI/ML projects, or applications working with LLMs and prompt engineering
• Knowledge of neural network models like CNN, RNN, or Transformers.
• Comfortable working with data tools (e.g. Numpy, Pandas); MySQL experience is a plus.
• Experience building simple web tools (e.g. with Flask or React).
• Curious, proactive, and enjoys solving real problems with tech.
About eTopus:
eTopus Technology is a VC-backed, innovator and technology leader of high performance, mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for the enterprise network, data center and high-performance computing markets.
Expect ~20 hours/week
Email resume and portfolio to emil...@etopus.com
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