Julian Raheema

Julian Raheema, a Ph.D. student at the University of California-San Diego, is not just advancing his knowledge in computer science and engineering but also pushing the boundaries of robotics technology. As a SMART retention scholar, he is a scholarship recipient who was actively employed as a Department of Defense (DoD) civilian professional. Through the scholarship, Julian has been able to pursue his academic dreams while advancing his career as a DoD civilian at his sponsoring facility, the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific in San Diego, CA – a role he will continue after graduation.   As the first in his family to pursue a doctoral degree, Julian emphasizes how pivotal his SMART mentor, Kurt Talke, Ph.D., a SMART retention scholar from the 2015 cohort, has been in helping him navigate the demands of academia while balancing his responsibilities as a Navy scientist, husband, and father of three.   But mentorship isn’t just something Julian receives – it’s something he pays forward. Over the summer, Julian took on the role of a mentor, guiding a fellow Ph.D. student and a new professional at the RESTORE Lab at NIWC Pacific.   Julian’s work as a Robotics Scientist directly supports NIWC Pacific’s mission to develop autonomous quadruped robots. By focusing on integrating cost-effective payloads, he aims to enhance these robots’ intelligence and autonomy, creating more efficient and reliable solutions for real-world applications that contribute to the DoD’s operational goals and resource optimization. “I’m passionate about making robots smarter, pushing the boundaries of what they can achieve to solve real-world problems,” Julian said.  Julian’s zeal for robotics has led to several notable accomplishments. His research has been accepted at the International Symposium on Robotics Research (ISRR) 2024, a premier event that gathers leading robotics researchers from academia, government, and industry to share insights and explore future directions in robotics. At ISRR, he will present a publication he co-authored, “Autonomous Exploration and Mapping Payload Integrated on a Quadruped Robot.” Julian is also preparing a second paper for publication. In addition, his project received recognition and funding for the next three years from his sponsoring facility. “These achievements, which might have been difficult to accomplish otherwise, were made possible by SMART,” Julian said.   Outside of his professional pursuits, Julian enjoys spending time with his family, exploring new foods, and immersing himself in nature through hiking. He is also passionate about music and singing at his church, which brings him a sense of community and peace.