Aspriring Control Theorist

Controls-focused mechanical engineer currently pursuing a Ph.D. at UCSB, with hands-on experience in model-based control, experimental automation, and Formula SAE EV systems.

3.91Ph.D. GPA
13 Courses Taken in Controls
4 Years For Bachelors AND Masters

Project Previews

Constrained Satellite Rendezvous (MPC)

Zero-order-hold HCW modeling with LQR, constrained MPC, and economic MPC fuel-vs-speed tradeoff analysis.

Jan 2026 - Mar 2026

King + Rook vs King Endgame Solver

Game-theory solver for KRK based on class with Joao P. Hespanha and his text Noncooperative Game Theory: zero-sum modeling, best response, minimax, and dynamic-programming.

Jan 2026 - Mar 2026

Inverted Pendulum on Cart (Physical System)

State-machine controller with swing-up + LQR/LQG balancing/catch; linear system ID via sine sweeps.

Apr 2025 - Jun 2025

Technical Stack

Model Predictive Control MATLAB Simulink Python LQR/LQG Nonlinear Control Robust Control Game Theory Arduino DAQ SolidWorks Hybrid Control FEA 3D Printing

Research

  • Biological Control Lab (UCSB): Control-oriented transcription/supercoiling modeling; co-author on accepted manuscript (Jan 2026), preprint on arxiv
  • M&M Flow Lab: Clogging dynamics and vision-based event detection for particle-laden flow experiments.
  • Fluid Energy Science Lab: Wind-tunnel data collection and custom Arduino-MATLAB DAQ systems for wake studies.

Education + Experience

  • UCSB Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering (Jun '29), GPA 3.91.
  • UCSB M.S. Mechanical Engineering (Jul '25), GPA 3.90.
  • UCSB B.S. Mechanical Engineering (Jun '25), GPA 3.76.
  • Teaching Assistant, UCSB (Apr 2024 - Present): Vibrations, Dynamics, Fluids, and Laboratory instruction support.
  • Resident Assistant, UCSB (Aug 2022 - Jun 2023).
  • Vehicle Systems Lead, Gaucho Racing Formula SAE EV (Aug 2021 - Jun 2025): Braking system engineering, accumulator container design, and cross-subsystem design reviews.
  • GameMaster, Diablo Escapes VR (Jul 2020 - Aug 2022).