WKU News

Madison Gardner, a senior in computer science, has been awarded a ThinkSwiss Research Scholarship to conduct AI and robotics research at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) in Switzerland. She is the first WKU student to be selected to participate in this summer research exchange program.

ThinkSwiss offers students studying in the United States and Canada research grants at a Swiss research institution of their choosing and provides scholars with an opportunity to experience the Swiss research ecosystem first-hand. 

The daughter of Meredith and Jamie Gardner of Louisville, KY, Gardner has conducted undergraduate student research at WKU in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences focusing on industrial robotics, digital twins, and the development of sensor fusion frameworks under the supervision of Dr. Greg Arbuckle. 

At HSLU, Gardner will be transferring those skills to participate in a project focused on developing an autonomous industrial inspection system using a legged robot. “My research will center on building a probabilistic digital twin of an industrial environment, where a robot continuously updates a virtual model of the physical space using real-time sensor data,” said Gardner. She further explained how this opportunity would all her to “engage with a new culture and expand my perspective on how advanced manufacturing and robotics are approached globally. Ultimately, this scholarship makes it possible for me to take a significant step toward my long-term goal of developing real-world cyber-physical systems that improve efficiency, safety, and adaptability in smart manufacturing environments.”

“While the ThinkSwiss scholarship is highly competitive, Madison’s dedication to her research and her technical proficiency makes her an ideal representative for WKU on an international stage. It is a well-deserved recognition of her hard work,” explained Arbuckle. “This scholarship offers Madison a unique opportunity to gain a global perspective on engineering research. I believe it will be a transformative experience that prepares her for the next phase of her career … I am most excited to see how she integrates the specialized knowledge gained in Switzerland with the foundations she built here at WKU to solve complex problems in the field of industrial robotics.” 

Gardner plans to continue on to graduate school after completing her research abroad. She also thanks Dr. Arbuckle and Dr. Galloway for their support throughout the application process. 

About ThinkSwiss: ThinkSwiss is a scholarship program funded by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). It is managed by the Office of Science, Technology and Higher Education at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C. and supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Ottawa, Canada. The aim of the program is to promote research opportunities in Switzerland for students at U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities and to foster exchange between Swiss, U.S., and Canadian universities and research institutions.

About the Office of Scholar Development (OSD): OSD mentors students applying for nationally competitive scholarships for “academic extras” such as study abroad, research, professional experience, and more. From first drafts to final submissions with multiple revisions in between, OSD helps students make more possible. By conceptualizing and revising the stories they tell in application essays and interviews, students better understand their strengths, interests, and purpose—and explore multiple possible pathways to that work. 

Contact: Anna Mayo, anna.mayo@wku.edu