“It takes a village to raise a child,” the old saying goes. In the world of academic research, the same principle holds true. At the Penn Research in Embedded Computing and Integrated Systems Engineering (PRECISE) Center, that village includes tech giants like Google — working hand-in-hand with academia to foster innovation and impact.
“Through our mentorship collaboration with Google, we are redefining how to shape future innovators,” says Insup Lee, Cecilia Fitler Moore Professor in Computer and Information Science (CIS) and Director of the PRECISE Center.
Case in point: two years ago, PRECISE invited Dr. Yun Liu, a senior research scientist at Google, to deliver a talk: “Lessons on the Path from Code to Clinic.” Afterward, doctoral student Shuo Li (co-advised by Lee and Osbert Bastani, Assistant Professor in CIS) followed up with a one-on-one conversation. That brief exchange uncovered a strong alignment in personality, mindset and research interests, sparking a mentorship that ultimately redefined Li’s academic path and future career goals.
Bridging the Gap, Building the Future
Mentorship at the PRECISE Center is not just transactional, but transformational. The partnership between Li and Liu demonstrates how academic talent and industry expertise can come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
This kind of sustained mentorship isn’t common. Grounded in trust, shaped by real-world relevance and driven by a shared belief in what’s possible by working across boundaries, the PRECISE-Google mentorship represents a broader shift in how academia and industry can collaborate, not only through sponsored projects or formal partnerships, but meaningful, human connections. “Mentorship like this empowers students to create their own pathways into industry,” says Lee.
What follows is a joint conversation with Li — who will start at the Amazon Web Services (AWS) AI Lab after graduation in May — and Liu, on what makes this kind of mentorship meaningful, and why initiatives like the PRECISE-Google mentorship matter more than ever.
A Conversation Between Mentee and Mentor
Shuo, what motivated you to seek mentorship from an industry professional like Dr. Liu?
Penn Engineering is one of the top schools in the world, but, at first, I found myself more engaged with theory and wondering how to identify practical research problems. Having an industry mentor has expanded my perspective and allowed me to better align my research with real-world impact.
Dr. Liu, how do collaborations like this benefit both academia and industry? What challenges have you encountered in bridging the gap between industry and academia and how have you addressed them?
Collaborations can leverage complementary aspects. Academia has the energy and creativity of younger researchers and graduate students like Shuo, as well as the decades of experience from experienced faculty. Industry, on the other hand, has product-oriented research programs, production expertise and real-world datasets. While these strengths can and often do overlap, synergies can help drive forward progress spanning both academic research and product development.
A challenge to collaboration is that sometimes the desired goals and timelines may differ; for example, a technical team may need to develop a working prototype quickly, whereas an academic research team may desire a novel method appropriate for a conference submission based on a certain deadline. In such cases, it may be useful to set expectations upfront, and to structure collaborations such that skillsets are complementary, such as between machine learning experts and domain experts.
Shuo, can you describe a specific instance where Dr. Liu’s mentorship significantly influenced your academic journey or career aspirations?
When I started my internship at AWS, I had a video call with Dr. Liu. I asked for advice on how to thrive in my role. One of the most valuable suggestions he gave me was to focus on expanding my professional network. Rather than concentrating solely on my internship project, he encouraged me to connect with other managers and employees. By following this advice, I not only increased my industry connections but also gained deeper insights into the key challenges the company was facing.
Dr. Liu, how do you typically guide students like Shuo in exploring career options?
One aspect I try to emphasize is the importance of exploring different career pathways to understand if it may be a good fit for the individual. That may depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to technical interests, day-to-day work preferences, and organizational style and culture.
Shuo was interested in exploring if industry might be a fit, and my main suggestion was to encourage him to intern and talk to many teams and people during his internships to understand the spectrum of work across different teams and companies.
Shuo, how has Dr. Liu’s guidance helped you overcome challenges or achieve your goals? Put differently, what have been the tangible outcomes of the mentorship for you?
We have monthly calls to discuss my progress and future plans. His guidance has helped me prioritize tasks from an industry perspective. Our conversations have enabled me to identify real-world problems and adjust my research focus accordingly. Since starting this mentorship, I’ve completed two internships, both at AWS. Each time, Dr. Liu advised me on project strategy and how to demonstrate key professional qualities. His insights helped me navigate those experiences with confidence.
Dr. Liu, what motivates you to mentor students from academia? And how can industry collaborations amplify the impact of academic research?
I’ve personally benefited from mentorship over time, so subject to bandwidth constraints, I believe in paying it forward. As far as impact goes, when a product team is interested in prototyping a specific product or feature, it often helps to work with academics to do initial exploratory research or push the boundaries of current state of the art.
For example, at Google we have worked with clinical experts to better understand how diverse users use and interpret information from artificial intelligence apps. Correspondingly, the impact of a research project can be elevated if the research results in patents, startups or methodology that is incorporated into products that in turn help people.
As mentorship often bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world expectations, many students also look to their mentors for guidance on industry interview preparation. Dr. Liu, how do you suggest students prepare for the technical questions in industry interviews?
First, understand the problem clearly by asking clarifying questions and/or stating your assumptions about the problem. Not asking clarifying questions can lead to avoidable erroneous assumptions and issues with the final solution.
Second, explain your thought process (rather than pausing and thinking silently for long periods) while working through the problem. It’s important to keep in mind that the final solution or answer may not be the most important part of the interview. A large part of the assessment is how you attack the problem and arrive at the answer, which is why explaining your thought process as you go is so important. This may take some practice, so mock interviews with peers, colleagues and mentors can help.
Another sometimes overlooked aspect is that an interview will usually provide an opportunity for the interviewee to ask questions — this can be a good chance to learn more about the position, process, company culture and more, so prepare one or two questions!
Shuo, how has the PRECISE Center supported your mentorship experience with Dr. Liu?
I’m truly grateful to be a part of PRECISE and have found the structure of this mentorship to be incredibly valuable. PRECISE not only coordinates and facilitates our bi-monthly calls, but also respects my independence and autonomy throughout the process.
I’m given the freedom to engage in open, one-on-one conversations with Dr. Liu without needing to report any details to my academic advisors. That level of trust has empowered me to seek second opinions, thoughtfully weigh insights from both academia and industry, and ultimately make well-informed decisions on my own. It’s a refreshing and empowering model.
Becoming a Mentor at PRECISE
“Publishing papers alone isn’t enough,” says Lee, the Director of the PRECISE Center. “Today’s researchers must also be collaborators, communicators and drivers of impact.”
Industry professionals play a key role in helping current students connect their academic research to real-world problems. “It’s our responsibility to help build those bridges,” says Lee. “As faculty, we know our limits — we can’t provide every experience a student might need. That’s why we’re so grateful for collaborators like Dr. Liu, who generously invest their time.”
The PRECISE Center welcomes industry professionals interested in mentoring students. “That personal investment doesn’t just help students with the job search,” adds Lee. “It gives them clarity, confidence, and direction.”
To get involved, email precise@seas.upenn.edu.