When Orville Daley entered The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona, as the 2023 Top Matriculant, he arrived with exceptional promise and a full scholarship to pursue his undergraduate studies. Three years later, on July 1, 2026, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Computer Science from the Faculty of Science and Technology, marking another major milestone in a journey defined by academic excellence, leadership, research and innovation.
Throughout his undergraduate years, Orville distinguished himself both within and beyond the University. As a coach of the FIRST Global Jamaica national robotics team, he has helped young Jamaican innovators secure major awards while competing against teams from more than 190 countries.
At the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge in Athens, Greece, the Jamaican team placed third for the Dr. Mae Jemison Award for International Unity. The following year, in Panama City, Panama, Orville’s leadership contributed to the team earning third place for the Katherine Johnson Award for Engineering Documentation, as well as a third-place finish in the international robotics competition. He continues to serve as a coach and is expected to accompany the team to the Republic of Korea for the 2026 competition in October.
Orville also made his mark in research and innovation at The UWI. He was a member of the winning team in the regional 2024 Grand Innovation Challenge, under the supervision of Dr. Savanna Lloyd. He later collaborated with Dr. Lloyd and Dr. Campbell on a specialized physics research project, further strengthening his practical and investigative skills.
His technical abilities have also taken him onto the global stage. During the summer of 2026, Orville was selected as one of only three Caribbean scholars for the CariSurg programme at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. Founded by Saint Lucian researcher Dr. Nikita Greenidge, the programme provides Caribbean students with opportunities to contribute to emerging research in surgery and medical technology.
Working under the supervision of PhD researcher Charles DeLorey, Orville contributed to cutting - edge surgical robotics research. His work involved developing a sensor assembly for the da Vinci surgical robot to support real-time nerve detection during surgical procedures - an innovation with the potential to improve precision and reduce the risk of nerve damage.
Photo caption: Orville Daley (3rd left) and Carisurg colleagues at Guy's and St.Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
This experience followed two consecutive summer internships as a Software Engineer at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, in 2024 and 2025. Together, these opportunities allowed him to deepen his expertise in software development, electronics and robotics while gaining experience in internationally recognized research and technology environments.
Despite his achievements, Orville remains firmly committed to giving back. He currently mentors an undergraduate student at The UWI, offering guidance on navigating the demands of a STEM degree, developing technical competencies and preparing for future academic and professional opportunities.
Now focused on building a career as a robotics engineer, Orville represents the calibre of innovative and socially conscious graduates being developed within the Faculty of Science and Technology. Wherever his journey leads, he remains committed to using robotics, engineering and mentorship to strengthen Jamaica’s STEM landscape and inspire the next generation of innovators.
