Sydney Lodge

Consultant for an agricultural robotics startup focused on reducing pesticide usage and enabling early detection of crop diseases. Collaborated directly with C-suite leadership, including founders and CEOs, to develop and execute a go-to-market strategy that aligned engineering and commercialization teams, resulting in the successful acquisition of a $175K USDA grant for robotic product development. Through in-depth market analysis, I identified a $13B market opportunity with a 15% CAGR growth potential and effectively articulated the ROI and strategic value to executive stakeholders, directly shaping the company’s market entry and product positioning strategy. Leveraging strong presentation skills, I translated customer discovery findings into actionable insights, ensuring data-driven decision-making across teams.

Directed the TILE program at Georgia Tech, a cross-functional initiative designed to strengthen Atlanta’s tech workforce through strategic partnerships with local universities, Fortune 500 companies, and innovation hubs. Managed the pilot program for 13 students, overseeing recruitment, funding, and curriculum design to ensure alignment with Georgia Tech’s goals in innovation, commercialization, and community impact. Collaborated with the Atlanta Consortium for Equity and Success (ACES) and other institutions to expand STEM and entrepreneurship opportunities for underrepresented groups, promoting inclusive excellence in the tech industry.

Led a multi-year data analysis project with a research team to examine 150 years of academic literature, uncovering systemic biases and tracing the ongoing influence of eugenics across various disciplines. Oversaw a data analysis project, employing Natural Language Processing techniques such as TF-IDF to track ideological trends. Directed the extraction and analysis of over 1 million public domain and open source JSTOR sources. Presented research findings to academic audiences, contributing to ongoing discussions on ethical research practices.

Addressed a critical gap in college application support for first-generation students by creating Graduit, a platform that evolved from a high school initiative into a startup through Georgia Tech’s Create X program. Conducted over 50 stakeholder interviews to identify key needs and developed a customer journey map. Managed the MVP’s development and testing, culminating in a pilot workshop for ten students that focused on application strategy, professional development, and personal statement guidance. The platform has since helped students secure substantial scholarships and personalized college readiness support.

Identified and categorized misinformation and abuse across a dataset of 10,000 tweets after the 2020 U.S. election cycle. Tasked with applying a research-based codebook, the project aimed to expose instances of gendered and race-based discrimination, drawing on established academic literature to guide classification. Weekly training and debriefing sessions provided an opportunity to refine the codebook’s effectiveness, ensuring nuanced insights and increased coding accuracy. The role required a high level of focus and collaboration, resulting in a comprehensive and reliable dataset that contributed to policy and social media recommendations for addressing misinformation and abuse.

Created and tested targeted recruitment advertisements, including memes, emails, and posters, to attract participants for a study on sexual risk behaviors. Recruited over 1,000 participants via Twitter, identifying and scheduling eligible candidates for 15-minute interviews with an option for one-hour follow-ups. These recruitment efforts contributed to a diverse participant pool and enriched data on sexual health and behavior.

Compiled and analyzed media representations related to colorism, gentrification, and systemic issues affecting marginalized communities. Curated a digital playlist to promote media literacy, raising awareness of diverse representations across race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socio-economic class, religion, age, and disability. The work contributed to the development of a curriculum aimed at promoting media literacy in K-12 schools.

Facilitated a summer program designed for minority adolescents, with a focus on mental health and substance abuse awareness in underserved communities. Through interactive sessions and educational workshops, participants developed essential skills in coping mechanisms, prevention strategies, and accessing community resources. By fostering open dialogue and offering targeted support, the program empowered adolescents to make informed decisions, prioritize their mental and emotional well-being, and contribute to healthier communities.

Examined over 200 children’s cartoons for negative cultural representations and stereotypes of criminals. Coded data on the types of crimes depicted, the presence of law enforcement, and identity markers. Compiled and cross-referenced findings in a master spreadsheet with lab partners. Compared the social representation of criminals in children's media with adult television crime depictions.

Conducted interviews with 20 women of color, housing advocates, and organizers via Google Hangout and Zoom. Transcribed interviews for eight participants and analyzed data for themes related to affordable housing in Texas and California. Developed a poster presentation and shared findings at the Virtual Illinois McNair Research Symposium and Wesleyan’s Research in the Sciences Conference.

Provided emotional, physical, and informational support to 20 patients awaiting procedures at Planned Parenthood and private clinics in Hartford. Assisted medical staff by preparing procedure rooms and taking patient vitals.

Surveyed 187 Black women in STEM from Emory University, Spelman College, and the University of Georgia for the GRACE Lab supervised by Dr. Danielle Dickens. Conducted independent research on the relationship between gendered racial identity centrality, gendered racism, and hair esteem among Black women. Presented findings at the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Conference and the Dwight L. Greene Symposium.