RIT color science graduate lands position at Apple thanks to program’s global reputation and strong industry ties

Rochester, New York – With billions of Apple devices in use every day across the globe, ensuring the visual quality of each camera is no small task. This June, one graduate from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) will help carry that responsibility into the future.

Andrea Avendano Martinez, who recently completed her master’s degree in color science, has secured a position at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Her new role? Camera color science engineer—an essential job that ensures the color quality of every camera module on Apple devices remains consistent and precise.

“Essentially, I will be making sure that for all the camera modules that they manufacture, the color quality and the color capacity are the same,” explained Avendano Martinez.

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Her journey to this high-profile position is one shaped by rigorous academics, unique research opportunities, and meaningful industry connections, many of which were built during her time at RIT. The university is home to the Munsell Color Science Laboratory, a powerhouse in color science research and education. The lab is not only one of the oldest research facilities on campus but also a key part of the only color science Ph.D. program in the United States.

“RIT’s color science is unique in the world in its focus on human color perception and application to modern technologies,” said Michael Murdoch, head of the Integrated Sciences Academy. “The Munsell Color Science Laboratory has a long history of research and application to display systems, including modern high dynamic range televisions and augmented reality systems. Contributions over the years include calibration methods, tone-mapping operators, perceptual image quality scales, and models of spatial color differences, transparency, and brightness.”

For Avendano Martinez, the impact of the program’s reputation was clear. Being part of a lab so closely watched by top tech companies gave her a serious advantage when entering the job market.

“These companies are looking specifically at the Munsell Color Lab and getting students from these labs because the quality of the education is so high. They already know they are getting good color scientists,” said Avendano Martinez. “They prepared me super well. Getting recognized by these companies is amazing and great to be a part of.”

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But her success didn’t happen overnight. Originally from Gurnee, Illinois, Avendano Martinez began her academic path at RIT as an undergraduate student in motion picture science—a field that bridges filmmaking creativity with technical know-how. The mix of storytelling and STEM made it the ideal fit. After earning her bachelor’s degree in 2022, she took her skills to Dolby, where she interned twice and gained real-world experience that would shape her next steps.

“I was a color and vision science engineer and I made my own research project,” she recalled. “It was like a mini thesis, and I was able to present my project at a conference. That experience led me to get a master’s degree. Now that I’m ending my time here at RIT, I’m excited for this new chapter and what other opportunities it may bring!”

Avendano Martinez first connected with Dolby through an RIT alumni speaker who visited a student organization. Her initial internship dealt with Dolby Vision and content creation, where she helped showcase emerging tech. But it was during her second internship, focused squarely on color science, that she discovered a deeper passion for research and problem-solving in the field.

Those experiences, paired with the comprehensive training from RIT’s color science program, made her a standout candidate for Apple. Her story is not only a personal victory but a testament to how strong academic programs and alumni networks can open doors to the biggest stages in tech.

As she steps into her new role at one of the world’s most influential technology companies, Avendano Martinez brings with her a wealth of knowledge, hands-on experience, and a sense of purpose built at RIT. Her work will help shape the visual experiences of millions—one pixel, and one color, at a time.

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