Curriculum Vitae

Education

  • Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 2023 (expected)

  • B.S in Engineering Physics, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2016

    • Cum Laude

Research Experience

  • The University of Illinois at Chicago, 2020-present
    • AHA Pre-doctoral Researcher; Advisor: Pranav Bhounsule, Ph.D.
    • Optimal nonlinear control of bipedal robots using full body physics feedback linearization and simplified linear inverted pendulum models.
    • Designing human-inspired walking and balance robotic controllers.
  • NASA Johnson Space Center, 2020
    • Robotics Researcher USRA Intern
    • Developed ROS-based software to command UR5 robots to complete different affordances in simulation (using Gazebo) and in hardware. These affordances included tasks such as graspoing objects, turning valves, and flipping switched.
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2017-2020
    • Graduate Research Assistant; Advisor: Amir Jafari, Ph.D.
    • A Novel Treadmill with Adjustable Surface Stiffness with the Ability to Bilaterally Regulate the Vertical Stiffness
    • Scalable Soft Actuator based on Electromagnetic Induction; Design Specifications and Preliminary Experiments
  • The University of Texas at Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley, 2014-2016
    • Undergraduate Research Assistant; Advisor: Juan Guevara, Ph.D.
    • Identification of LDL receptor ligand in Apo B100 revealed potential functional domains.
  • The University of Texas at Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley, 2012-2013
    • Undergraduate Research Assistant; Advisor: Nazmul Islam, Ph.D.
    • Designed and developed a method to quantify biological particles in a sample using electrical impedance spectroscopy techniques as well as using AC electro-osmosis (ACEO) to deposit particles on stagnation points on electrode surfaces that can increase accuracy of biosensor.

Projects

  • Chicago Engineering Design Team, Chicago IL, 2021
    • Design of a 4-DOF Robotic
    • Worked in a team of engineering students to design and fabricate a robotic manipulator. Main duties included generating the kinematic model and programming an inverse kinematic solver for end effector trajectory control as well as motor driver selection, integration, and programming.
  • NSF Innovations CORPS Fall Cohort, Atlanta GA, 2018
    • Enterpreneurial Lead during a Seven week I-COPRS curriculum
    • The National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps program prepares scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the university laboratory, and accelerates the economic and societal benefits of NSF-funded, basic-research projects that are ready to move toward commercialization.
  • San Antonio VIA Codeathon, 2018
    • Bus Bike Rack Availability Utility
    • Built a software application system that allows bus riders to check the bike rack availability on any VIA bus
  • OpenCV Motion Analysis System, 2016-017
    • Independent Project
    • Developed a C++ based interface system that uses color detection for object tracking
  • Muscle-activated myoelectric prosthetic hand, 2016-2016
    • Designed and developed a low-cost 3D-printed myo-electric prosthetic hand * MATLAB and SolidWorks to test and design * Arduino programming * EMG signal proecssing and analysis
  • Maze-solver Robot Design, 2015-2016
    • IEEE Region 5 Conference Robotic Competition
  • Low Force Orbital Replacement Unit Cold Plate Design, 2014
    • Worked on a project given by NASA to develop an efficient and replaceable cold plate design for use inside the ISS.
    • AutoCad design and Finite Element Analysis using Autodesk Mechanical

Research Journal/Conference Publications

  • “Quadratically constrained quadratic programs using approximations of the step-to-step dynamics: application on a 2D model of Digit”, Proceedings of the 2022 IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots. Okinawa, Japan. Nov 28–30, 2022 (Accepted).
  • “Event-Based, Intermittent, Discrete Adaptive Control for Speed Regulation of Artificial Legs.”, Actuators 2021, 10(10), 264.
  • “Optimal Control of a 5-Link Biped Using Quadratic Polynomial Model of Two-Point Boundary Value Problem.”, Proceedings of the ASME 2021 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 8B: 45th Mechanisms and Robotics Conference (MR). Virtual, Online. August 17–19, 2021.
  • “One-Step Deadbeat Control of a 5-Link Biped Using Data-Driven Nonlinear Approximation of the Step-to-Step Dynamics”, Robotics 2020, 9, 90.
  • “Bioinspired robotic exoskeleton for endotracheal intubation”, Journal of Materials Research and Technology, Volume 9, Issue 6, 2020, Pages 12167-12176, ISSN 2238-7854.
  • “A Novel Treadmill that can Bilaterally Adjust the Vertical Surface Stiffness” IEEE Transaction on Mechatronics September 2018
  • “A Novel Treadmill with Adjustable Bilateral Surface Stiffness” Dynamic Walking Conference 2018
  • “Scalable Soft Actuator based on Electromagnetic Induction; Design Specifications and Preliminary Experiments” ICRA Conference 2018
  • “Identification of LDL Receptor Ligands in Apo B100 Reveals Potential Functional Domains” The Protein Journal, October 2017

Presentations

  • Dynamics Walking Conference, 2022
    • “Using a Linear Inverted Pendulum Model to Design a Stepping Controller for Digit”
  • ASME 2021 IDETC-CIE, 2021
    • “Optimal Control of a 5-Link Biped Using Quadratic Polynomial Model of Two-Point Boundary Value Problem”
  • BMES Conference, 2019
    • “Muscle Strength and Endurance Enhancement Using a 1-DOF Assistive Exoskeleton”
  • SURF Conference, 2019
    • “Endotracheal Intubation Performance Comparison of a Novel Digital Extenders Technique Versus Direct Laryngoscopy and Tactile Intubation”
  • SURF Conference, 2018
    • “A Novel Treadmill with Adjustable Surface Stiffness”
  • Dynamic Walking Conference, 2018
    • A Novel Treadmill with Adjustable l Surface Stiffness”
  • Engaged Scholar Symposium, 2015
    • “Low-Cost 3-D printed Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand”
  • Texas Space Grant Consortium Design Challenge Fall Showcase, 2014
    • “Low Force Orbital Replacement Unit Cold Plate Design”
  • 15th Annual Research Symposium The University of Texas at Brownsville, 2013
    • “Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) for bio-sensor Applications”

Skills and Techniques

Mechanical Software Other
SolidWorks Python MATLAB
AutoCAD C/c++ Circuit Design
ANSYS ROS (Robotic Operating System) Motion Capture (Nexus)
Auto Desk Mechanical Simulations Arduino Programming Robot Modeling
  MuJoCo  

Employment

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 2020-present
    • GTA for Dynamic Systems and Controls (part-time)
  • Robotic Researcher, NASA Johnson Space Center, January 2020-August 2020
    • Worked as an intern doing software development for Universal Robotics’ UR5 manipulator.
    • Implemented affordance templates for robot-object interaction.
  • Student Researcher, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, June 2018-March 2019
    • Designed an endotracheal intubation device to use under compromised airway conditions
  • Graduate Research Assistant, The University of Texas at San Antonio, January 2018-December 2019
    • • Advanced Robotics Manipulation Lab
  • Assistant Instructor of Research for Mechatronics Lab, The University of Texas at San Antonio, September 2017-December 2019
    • Conducted laboratory sessions for the engineering mechatronics class.
  • Anatomy and physiology / Pre-Calculus Tutor, The university of Texas Rio Grande Valley, January 2017-May 2017

STEM Outreach

  • Coding Coach, Brownsville TX
    • Conducted a summer coding camp for students of all ages
  • Robotics Coach, Episcopal Day Elementary School
    • Lego Mindstorm robotics coach for elementary and middle school students.
  • Engineering Teacher at RGV STEM Education, Rio Grande Valley TX
    • Teach after-school engineering classes to middle school and high school students