Collaboration Creates Opportunities for Undergraduate Researchers From Mexico
Martial Hebert and Marco Antonio Pérez Cisneros
The Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute Summer Scholars program (RISS) has launched a partnership with the University of Guadalajara (UdeG) to create pathways for undergraduate researchers from Mexico to engage with robotics and artificial intelligence research.
The collaboration with UdeG’s University Center of Exact Sciences and Engineering will enable two to five undergraduate Mexican researchers to join RISS programs for the next three years.
“The Robotics Institute Summer Scholars program is delighted to partner with the University of Guadalajara to expand research opportunities for talented undergraduate students,” said John Dolan, RISS co-director and a principal systems scientist in Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute. “RISS offers students rich robotics research opportunities and positions them well for graduate studies and academic and scientific careers.”
The RISS program prepares undergraduates for graduate school through summer research experiences, mentorship and community engagement. Students participating in RISS bring their unique knowledge, experiences and curiosity to CMU, while gaining access to the university’s globally recognized research environment to foster rich educational and cultural exchanges.
RISS students participate in an 11-week research immersion program, exploring robotics labs and topics, meeting with leaders in the field, attending workshops, and being coached and mentored. Students present and publish their research, growing as scholars and gaining confidence to apply to graduate school. Over the past 10 years, 90% of RISS graduates have applied to graduate programs.
A third of all CMU Ph.D. students from Mexico are RISS alumni — underscoring the program’s significant role in supporting graduate education for Mexican students.
“This immersive exposure accelerates students’ academic growth, enhances their global readiness, and positions them competitively for careers in deep tech industries both in Mexico and abroad,” said Marco Antonio Pérez Cisneros, rector of the Exact Sciences and Engineering Campus at UdeG. “For CMU and UdeG, this collaboration goes beyond institutional exchange. It’s a platform for co-creating cutting-edge technologies and solving challenges. It supports Mexico’s strategic push in the robotics sector while enriching CMU’s global innovation footprint.”
The partnership between CMU and UdeG brings together two hubs of technological innovation. Pittsburgh is a leader in AI and robotics, home to companies using these technologies to transform medicine, education, transportation and more, and educating future innovators. Guadalajara, often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of Mexico,” is home to a thriving technological ecosystem where universities, industry and government actively collaborate to advance innovation in areas such as AI, robotics and chip design.
“RISS is simultaneously global and local — the 2025 cohort brought together 39 scholars from 29 universities and 13 countries to explore robotics and AI research in Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science,” said Rachel Burcin, RISS co-director and RI Global Programs Manager. “The RISS team deeply appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Guadalajara students and administration alongside SCS faculty, staff and graduate students to shape and support the RISS learning community.”
For more information about RISS, visit the program’s website.
For More Information: Aaron Aupperlee | 412-268-9068 | aaupperlee@cmu.edu