Hi, I’m David Braun. I teach students and lead researchers in creating visionary robotics technologies.

While this summer was my first time working in a research lab, Dr Braun has provided me with tremendous guidance by being a conscientious and nurturing Principal Investigator. He was prompt and responsive to my requests, and his advice in formulating research objectives has been crucial in inspiring my academic learning throughout this endeavor. Despite the initial challenges and occasional sense of overwhelmingness stemming from my new exposure to robotics, Dr. Braun’s adept explanations of project-related theories have consistently underscored the subject matter, facilitating my immediate understanding. By the end, I was able to grasp a lot more difficult concepts and become familiar with extensive professional knowledge. At times Dr Braun provides a lot of freedom, which can make me feel a slight sense of anxiousness as a more clearly defined path would be more beneficial in enabling me to effectively manage my time and enhance my productivity. Nevertheless, Dr Braun encourages my aspirations and expresses care for my personal growth. This support, along with the friendly environment fostered in the Braun Lab, contributed to a meaningful summer research experience. I really enjoyed applying classroom knowledge to real-world situations, and the research topic and related concepts inspired me to pursue a major in electrical engineering. I look forward to continuing working with Dr Braun in the following semester.

I was a student and later a researcher under Dr. Braun, studying dynamics and conducting research on robotic exoskeletons. During my time working with him, I found Dr. Braun to be meticulous, pragmatic, and highly collaborative. These qualities were particularly evident when we worked on developing both the theoretical foundation and technical implementation of our exoskeleton. He encouraged me to systematically break down problems and explore unconventional solutions. Rather than simply providing answers, he challenged me with insightful questions that deepened my understanding and sharpened my critical thinking. One of the most valuable lessons I continue to carry from his mentorship is his emphasis on a first-principles approach to engineering challenges. This mindset has been instrumental in helping me deconstruct complex problems into manageable components and develop effective solutions throughout my career. I am truly grateful for Dr. Braun's mentorship and the lasting impact he has had on my approach to engineering and problem-solving.

I had the honor of studying and conducting research in robotics under Dr. Braun, whose mentorship profoundly shaped my academic and professional journey. He fostered an environment where ideas were encouraged, input was valued, and constructive feedback was always insightful. Through his guidance, I gained invaluable experience in both engineering and robotics—developing not only technical expertise but also the critical thinking skills that continue to serve me in my studies and career. I am deeply grateful for his support, knowledge, and dedication to his students.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to perform research in your lab this summer! As stated previously, I was in a separate lab before joining yours in the spring, and in that lab, the PI very rarely met with me to offer me guidance and help me through roadblocks. When I joined this lab, I was expecting the same relationship with my PI, but I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. You have always been extremely kind and caring, and your constant support has allowed me to accomplish much more than I could otherwise. Thank you for investing time into my development as a researcher. I hope that I can continue adding value to the lab wherever I can! Sincerely,...

I had the privilege to work with Dr. Braun on independent research for the 2023 Fall and I can genuinely say that the experience exceeded expectations. Our meetings, while consistently productive, maintained an atmosphere that was refreshingly informal. Dr. Braun was always eager to answer questions and was extremely approachable. Overall, Dr. Braun did an excellent job in providing challenging tasks that remained within my grasp while still pushing my knowledge and skill set. The work each week consistently felt productive yet never overwhelming. The guidance provided ensured that each step of the process felt meaningful, and his structured approach simplified the complex research process and ensured a sense of direction and purpose throughout. Furthermore, Dr. Braun was always diligent in providing relevant additional materials that were pivotal in clarifying difficult subjects or tasks. Dr. Braun’s responsiveness to emails and other forms of communication made the process as a student clear and productive. Any questions or concerns I had were met with prompt response creating an environment of fluid dialogue. Additionally, Dr. Braun was always extremely personable and reasonable in any circumstantial requests, oftentimes understanding that the rest of my busy schedule disallowed me from making significant progress one week. If I were to offer a constructive critique, it would be that at times, the process felt a bit too independent. While I acknowledge that this may have been more a result of my own approach and lack of self-advocacy, a greater emphasis on peer involvement could have enriched the process.In conclusion, the semester working with Dr. Braun was both intellectually and personally enriching. His guidance, responsiveness, and balanced approach created an environment conducive to both productivity and personal growth. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to spend significant time with an accomplished faculty member and look forward to future endeavors.

I apologize for not having sent this earlier, as it was a very busy past few days for me.However, I know we discussed the feedback a little in our final meetings, but I wanted to reiterate how helpful it was having you come in multiple times a week for progress updates. I think there were definitely moments where we’d discuss, and then I’d be able to head in a certain direction, but after a few days, I would no longer be progressing. Had we not had those meetings I think I wouldn’t have accomplished what was done this summer. As well, it was helpful to have great communication even when you weren’t here for the first 2 weeks. Even though you weren’t in the lab, we were still easily communicating over emails and Zoom meetings, and I think that the expectations for the summer research were very clearly set after our first meeting.In terms of constructive feedback, I think it would have been slightly more helpful to have a ReadMe sort of file for the MATLAB code beforehand. When I first started attempting to solve the BVP, I went in a different direction than the existing example code, because it was very foreign to me and there wasn’t much literature documenting the code logic. I suppose that’s why we created those ReadMe files in the final week of summer research, but it would’ve helped speed up the research process at first.Finally, I know we discussed a document being set up to see what is left for the research paper to be submitted on September 15th. I would still be interested in trying to push through those few weeks before the deadline, but a checklist similar to the summer research expectations that you created would be helpful for me to visualize how much we have left.Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to conduct research at your lab this summer, I definitely feel that I gained new skills while also being able to use what I’ve already learned. Any feedback would be appreciated to help me improve both professionally and academically.Thank you,

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible opportunity to participate in the AE-PEA project this summer. Your mentorship has been invaluable to me, and I am grateful for the patience and guidance you provided throughout the process. Thanks to your support, I have transitioned from a novice to someone who now understands the nuances of research. I have learned not only about the technical aspects but also the importance of patience, formality, and effective communication. Thank you for your encouragement and for believing in me. I am excited to apply what I have learned to my future endeavors. Wishing you all the best. Summer, 2024.8.10. Vanderbilt.