Archive

My first internship at Formlabs, where I worked on the pre-launch Fuse SLS printer. This experience introduced me to production-scale additive manufacturing and R&D workflows.

Fuse SLS Test Prints

Fuse Sift Doser Design

Vacuum Splitter Design

Fuse Blast Development

Mechanical Engineering Intern

May 2019 - September 2019

Improved printed geometry accuracy by 25% on pre-launch Fuse SLS
Discovered and resolved laser transposition issue in beta units
Architected powder handling subsystems (shipped as Fuse Sift & Fuse Blast)

Selective Laser Sintering R&D 3D Printing Powder Handling

An AM service bureau where I served as lead SLS technician, supporting production for major aerospace and tech clients including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Google, and NASA.

SLS Production

Laser Rastering

Vacuum Form Tooling

3D Scanner Inspection

Mechanical Engineering Intern

May 2018 - September 2018

Lead SLS technician: improved process robustness, authored SOPs, and increased additive manufacturing production throughput
Developed material profiles and processing approaches for PA11 and PA12 on SLS systems
Designed, analyzed, and manufactured production tooling; supported Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Google, and NASA
Performed production analysis including GD&T, first article inspections, and 3D scanner-based inspection workflows

SLS Production Quality Assurance Aerospace

NIU Supermileage designs and builds ultra-efficient vehicles for the SAE Supermileage and Shell Eco-Marathon competitions. I progressed from Treasurer to Vice President to President over four years.

Competition Vehicle

Shell Eco-Marathon Win

Custom DOHC Engine Head

Chassis Redesign

Belt Tensioner Design

SAE Interview Feature

President

2019-2021

Vice President (2018-19) | Treasurer (2017-18)

Recruited and led a 25-student team; earned 3rd place at SAE Supermileage 2020 and 2021
Co-led team to 1st place at Shell Eco-Marathon 2019 and 3rd place at SAE SM 2019 as Vice President
Created MATLAB, SolidWorks, and ANSYS tutorials to onboard and upskill team members during COVID-19
Chaired meetings, built timelines/budgets, and secured $60,000+ in funding (2018-2020)
Designed and fabricated a custom DOHC engine head for gasoline vehicle (9-month project)
Secured $30,000 sponsorship from Navistar International for carbon fiber chassis redesign

Publication

2020 NIU Supermileage Vehicle Technical Report

Award Winner

Society of Automotive Engineers, March 30, 2020

Leadership SAE Engine Design Composites Project Management

The NIU Engineering Makerspace provides additive manufacturing services to students, faculty, and industry partners. As Co-Director, I managed operations and trained students in design for additive manufacturing.

Walker Project CAD

Walker Assembly

Topology Optimization

Custom Bottle Opener

Co-Director

January 2018 - August 2020

Managed 250+ student and industry projects from design consultation through manufacturing and delivery
Automated backend order-form process to route metadata into task management software
Trained students in DfAM and operated eight additive systems across materials and processes

3D Printing DfAM Management Training

Pi Tau Sigma is the international mechanical engineering honor society, recognizing academic excellence and professional development.

Secretary

April 2019 - May 2021

Supported chapter operations: planned events, documented meetings, and coordinated with executive board

Honor Society Mechanical Engineering Leadership

Research focused on improving powder flow control and deposition repeatability in directed energy deposition (DED) metal additive manufacturing.

Custom Nozzle Design

Research Focus

Developed powder flow control and analysis methods for directed energy deposition (DED)
Designed a new DED powder flow nozzle and printhead to improve mass flow control and deposition repeatability

Advisor

Dr. Nicholas Pohlman

Duration

January - May 2021

DED Powder Flow Metal AM Process Development

Research on embedding thermocouples during directed energy deposition printing for heat exchanger applications, conducted in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory.

DED System Design

Optomec DED System

Research Focus

Developed thermocouple embedment techniques using DED metal printing for heat exchangers supporting Idaho National Laboratory
Owned experiment planning and execution
Work presented by advisors at TMS 2021 (virtual)

Advisors

Dr. John Shelton & Dr. Kyu Taek Cho

Duration

May 2020 - January 2021

DED Embedded Sensors Heat Exchangers INL

Research spanning metal and polymer additive manufacturing, including design for DMLM and investigation of polymer material degradation.

RadMax Gas Expander

ULTEM 9085 Print

Melt Flow Index Testing

Research Focus

Developed a refrigerant gas expander concept compatible with DMLM metal additive manufacturing in collaboration with RadMax Technologies
Investigated degradation of ULTEM 9085 AM polymer; explored bio-inspired structures to improve strength, stiffness, and wear characteristics

Advisor

Dr. Federico Sciammarella

Duration

August 2018 - May 2019

DMLM ULTEM Materials Bio-Inspired Design

Temporal Rift is an interactive installation created for Georgia Tech's biannual student showcase. Guests could peer through an interdimensional portal to view alternate realities of the Georgia Tech campus, using physical controls to navigate between worlds and locations.

Concept

The installation simulates an interdimensional portal that has "ripped" through a wall, revealing glimpses of alternate futures. Guests can use two physical dials to control the experience: one selects the alternate world, and one selects the campus location they're viewing. Five distinct worlds were created, each with three campus locations (15 total scenes):

Digital World (2092) - A cyberpunk future with neon-lit holographic interfaces
Green World (2075) - Nature has reclaimed the campus with overgrown vegetation
Outer Space (2524) - Georgia Tech as an interstellar space station
AI Takeover (2148) - Robots and AI have transformed the campus
Underwater (2262) - The campus submerged in an underwater city

Installation Videos

World Navigation Demo

Installation Demo

Process & Exhibition

Installation Overview

Control Panel

Portal Frame

World Selection

Guest Interaction

Alternate Reality

Physical Installation

Exhibition Setup

AI-Generated Content

Final Exhibition

Technical Implementation

Hardware: Arduino-controlled rotary encoders and physical dial controls
Software: TouchDesigner for real-time video playback and UI feedback
Content: AI-generated video content using Runway, with post-production in After Effects and Premiere Pro
Physical Design: Drywall wall construction with sculpted foam "broken wall" effect and rear projection surface

My Contributions

Concept development and world design
Hardware design (Arduino, control panel, wiring)
TouchDesigner programming and UI design
Physical installation construction
Content generation (shared with collaborator)

Collaborator

Jojo Brauer

TouchDesigner Arduino Runway AI After Effects Premiere Pro Physical Computing Installation Art

Orbit is a mobile app designed to help seniors plan weekly activities that keep them physically active, mobile, and socially connected. Developed through user research with elderly community members and healthcare workers, the app addresses the growing need for tools that support healthy aging while respecting independence and autonomy.

The Problem

As populations age globally, many seniors face challenges staying physically and socially active. Research shows that maintaining regular activity is crucial for both physical health and mental wellbeing, yet many older adults struggle to find and plan appropriate activities that match their preferences, abilities, and social needs.

Interactive Prototype

Click through the app to experience the onboarding flow and main features.

Key Features

Personalized Onboarding: Questions about activity preferences, social styles, travel willingness, and schedule to tailor recommendations
Weekly Activity Planning: Calendar-based interface for scheduling activities throughout the week
Social Connection: Features to coordinate activities with friends and meet new people with similar interests
Organizer Portal: Separate flow for activity providers to list and manage events
Accessibility Focus: Large text, simple navigation, and clear visual hierarchy designed for older adults

Design Process

Conducted interviews with elderly community members and healthcare workers
Created journey maps and service blueprints to identify pain points
Developed personas based on research findings
Iterative prototyping with user feedback
Built working prototype using Figma and React

My Contributions

User research and stakeholder interviews
Wireframing and UI/UX design
Interactive prototype development
Service blueprint creation

Team

Victoria Gamez (MID), Michelle Kim (MID), Matt McCoy (ME PhD)

Service Design UX Research Figma React Prototyping Accessibility Healthcare

Industry Experience

Formlabs

Met-L-Flo, Inc.

Student Organizations

NIU Supermileage

Engineering Makerspace

Pi Tau Sigma

Undergraduate Research

DED Powder Flow Control

Embedded Sensors in DED

AM Material Studies

Awards & Honors

Lincoln Laureate First Finalist

Hackaday Project Feature

SAE MOMENTUM Feature

McKearn Fellow

1st Place - Shell Eco-Marathon Americas

Scholar's Award

Engineering Ambassador

Engineering & Fine Arts Dean's List

Industrial Design

Temporal Rift

Orbit

Mechanical Engineering Intern

Mechanical Engineering Intern

President

2020 NIU Supermileage Vehicle Technical Report

Co-Director

Secretary

My Contributions

Collaborator

My Contributions

Team