Celebrating the Labroots 2025 Fall Undergraduate Back-to-School Scholarship Winner: Xiaolei Ren

Robotics engineering is a multidisciplinary field that integrates mechanical design, electronics, and computer science to develop intelligent machines capable of performing complex tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously while assisting humans in their everyday lives. As the costs of receiving higher education continue to rise, Labroots is proud to offer year-round scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students to help mitigate the financial burden of receiving their education. The goal of the 2025 Fall Back-to-School Scholarship is to provide a small financial boost to mitigate research costs for STEM degrees.

This year’s recipient is Xiaolei Ren, an undergraduate student at the Illinois Institute of Technology with a strong passion for Information Science and Robotics Engineering. Xiaolei tells Labroots his goal is to use technology for creating a smarter and more helpful tomorrow.

Xiaolei’s passion for robotics and information science began with a childhood love of science fiction and building projects, which deepened during a high school robotics competition that highlighted the link between code and physical action.

He is particularly excited by the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, exploring how smart, autonomous machines can learn from their environment and assist people in healthcare, daily tasks, and beyond.

Regarding future changes Xiaolei sees in his field the next five years, he anticipates robots will become more integrated into daily life, specifically with advances in machine learning making robots safer, more intuitive, and collaborative partners for humans.

Outside of school, Xiaolei volunteers in his community, contributes to his university robotics team, and enjoys spending time with his dog, embracing a life that balances hands-on innovation with personal well-being.