Between the road, the classroom, and data: the life of the young woman who won't stop until she becomes an engineer

Romina is currently in the 3rd year of a degree that combines agriculture with technology. She has found her place among plant physiology, sensors, and data analysis. She completed her first work experience through an internship at Ferrando & Asociados, a milestone she describes as "extremely positive" due to the constant exchange and feedback.

At the company, she applied programming and data modeling knowledge to classify early rooting levels in eucalyptus seedlings using thermal imaging, RGB images, and Machine Learning models. This experience provided her with technical tools and allowed her to connect with institutions such as the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIA), understanding the real impact of technology on the productive sector.

Her current research project for her intermediate degree as an Agroenvironmental Technologist, which she expects to receive next year, emerged from her internship. She is researching the classification of foliar (leaf) diseases in maize crops using RGB images and Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning models.

"The goal is to find physiological differences between plants through images," she notes. Her future goal is to develop her own methodological framework that allows her to capture and process her own images within Uruguayan territory, adapting artificial intelligence to the specific challenges of national production.

This professional path has taught her fundamental human lessons: patience, the value of collaborative work, and confidence in her own judgment. "When you want to delve into innovative areas, it is often necessary to go beyond formal content and conduct your own research," she says.

Her commitment to the institution is also reflected in her present: Romina currently serves as a support fellow for the coordination of her own degree. This role allows her to apply her technical skills in the university's day-to-day operations, actively integrating into the academic ecosystem while finishing her education.

Romina used to believe that physical distances were the main obstacle in her career. However, today she is convinced that the greatest barriers are the ones we impose on ourselves: "It may be more or less difficult, but if you want to, you can truly go as far as you set your mind to."