Gabe Colbrunn, an Honors College junior and mechatronics engineering major, has been doing robotics competitions and projects since elementary school. Gabe called robotics his “lifelong passion.”
After graduating from Highland High School in Medina, Ohio, Gabe came to Թ specifically for its unique that combines mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to innovate with robotics and automation. He has further broadened his skillset with a minor in computer science, which has many applications within engineering and robotics. Now, Gabe’s using his lifelong passion to improve people’s lives by making medical procedures more accurate and effective.
Gabe was always interested in medical robotics, a field that uses devices, systems, and processes to improve healthcare, so his summer 2024 internship at Andrews Research and Education Foundation (AREF) was a perfect fit. AREF is a non-profit organization based in Florida that conducts research in orthopedic medicine.
At AREF, Gabe applies his robotics knowledge to operate robots and run simulations to conduct biomechanical testing that measures the effectiveness of orthopedic surgeries.
“You need some way to evaluate the quality of these surgeries,” Gabe said. “Since the robotics testing is done with cadavers and the simulations are, obviously, not live patients, you can test without having to practice on live patients and run the risk of something bad happening to a real person. If it messes up, so what?”
Research isn’t all that Gabe has been able to do at AREF. One day, Gabe’s supervisors were looking for someone who could help put together videos showing different surgical techniques. Remembering a video editing course that he had taken at Թ State to fulfill his honors course requirements, Gabe volunteered. The course, called “My Story on the Web,” taught Gabe how to use digital editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop.
“Video editing has sort of been like my side gig at work,” Gabe said. “Awesome, random thing about the Honors College is the diversity of classes I've taken because of honors course requirements.”
Gabe’s array of skills and clear passion for robotics has helped him to be very successful at AREF; they like him so much that they have flown him down to work in Florida one weekend each month during the fall and spring semesters, and for two weeks during winter break. He hopes to receive an offer to continue his work with AREF after he graduates in May 2026.
Though Gabe plans to work for a few years after graduating, his ultimate goal is to earn a doctorate degree. “I really like research,” he explained.
At Թ, Gabe has had the opportunity to do research in the Cognitive Robotics and AI (CRAI) lab, which is administered by Riu Liu, Ph.D., assistant professor. During the fall 2024 semester — his first semester in the lab — Gabe used large language models to design an AI “mind” for a robotic dog.
For the spring 2025 semester, Gabe has earned an (OSGC) grant to continue his work with the CRAI lab’s robotic dog. Gabe hopes to use large language models to train the robot dog to act as a guide dog for visually impaired people. He will have the opportunity to present his research at the Ohio Space Research Symposium this April.
After a childhood of success in robotics competitions, Gabe continued to find success at Թ State’s 2023 SkyHack hackathon competition. SkyHack is an aviation-themed design competition held in Թ State’s Design Innovation Hub (DI Hub). Gabe and his team had one weekend to design, build and present a prototype related to aviation.
“We made a drone that could communicate using large language models,” Gabe said. “It could talk and listen to the user.”
Gabe’s team won their section and a prize of around $2,000, which was split amongst the group.
In addition to research and hackathons, Gabe has been a member of Թ State’s Best Buddies organization for a year and a half. In Best Buddies, members are paired with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to attend fun events and get involved in campus life. The group has hosted craft nights, bingo and a Thanksgiving potluck. In addition, Gabe meets his buddy for dinner every week.
The club’s mission to support inclusion on campus is close to Gabe’s heart. “It's always been something I've cared about. My little brother has autism, so inclusion is a personal passion,” Gabe said. “That’s a world I want to stay involved in while still pursuing engineering as a career.”
Gabe shared that he hopes to one day use his engineering and robotics skills to improve technology for individuals with disabilities. In a previous job at a summer camp for individuals with special needs, Gabe observed that many campers used specialized wheelchairs or communication devices and saw a place where he could make a difference. “There’s engineering behind all of that,” Gabe explained. “There’s definitely a lot of overlap between the fields. Maybe one day.”
When he’s not in class or at the lab, Gabe unwinds by playing a variety of Թ State’s intramural sports with friends and volunteering to play with kids at a homeless shelter in Akron.
For more information about the Honors College at Թ State, visit the Honors College website or email honors@kent.edu. For more information about majoring in mechatronics engineering, visit the College of Aeronautics and Engineering website.
Media Contact: Stephanie Moskal, smoskal@kent.edu, 330-672-2312