During Summer 2021, I had the opportunity to work in the Automation Mechatronics team at Zymergen. Zymergen, a synthetic biology company, has an internal automation platform based on the Reconfigurable Automation Cart, pictured here.
I worked on integration subassembly design work, allowing device-agnostic enclosures to work with specific laboratory automation hardware.
For more information, visit www.zymergen.com or https://www.zymergen.com/blog/technology/the-case-for-modular-lab-automation/
I work as a co-manager in the Rapid Prototyping Lab in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell, where I oversee printer operations and maintenance; in Spring 2021 I taught a group of new employees how to use the equipment as part of our mentorship and volunteering program. In Fall 2021, I began managing the space, it’s tools, and its 7 employees.
Equipment in the lab include 3D printers from Stratasys, Markforged, Ultimaker, and FormLabs, along with Epilog laser cutters.
Summer 2019 - Present
Drawing design elements from a traditional floor lamp, the Home+ Lamp is a robot designed to help people age in their homes. It uses a tendon-driven continuum robotic arm with a claw at the end to grab common household items to assist with tasks of daily living.
I worked with Professor Keith Evan Green in the Architectural Robotics Lab at Cornell on this project, where I was able to re-imagine and construct new electrical and mechanical systems, iterating on some of the weaknesses of previous versions of the project.
At Cornell, I’ve been able to do a number of projects as part of the curriculum. Many of these were part of MAE2250, Mechanical Synthesis, which focused on mechanical design and fabrication skills.
Since 2019, I’ve worked with a high school robotics team, HYPE, in Trumansburg, NY.
Working with these students, I’ve taught design sense and given students practice using critical thinking skills to solve complex challenges, in addition to teaching CAD and safe machine shop skills.
During Summer 2020, I worked at an energy storage startup called SPIN Storage Systems, where I worked on the design and manufacturing of kinetic energy battery prototypes.
During my freshman year, I used some extra time to design a 1 pound combat robot. Despite having a sound mechanical construction, electrical woes meant I didn’t get pictures before it got destroyed at competition.
For 5 years through middle and high school, I competed in various robotics competitions. Some of my favorite robots I helped build are pictured here.
These robots competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition between 2014 and 2018.
Special thanks to Sophia Leon Guerrero for many of the images on this page.
