Hey! I'm JR.
Mechanical Engineering, Product Design @Lehigh University.
I am currently working in the Complex Fluids and BioPhotonics Laboratory at Lehigh on a US DOD-funded research project on ultrabroadband optical limiting to protect sensitive optical equipment for high-intensity lasers.
I am also working at the Energy Systems Laboratory as a technical analyst, helping graduate students apply Python and MATLAB scripts to varying optimization problems.
Projects
ENGR010 Capstone Project
Designed and implemented a custom virtual voice assistant leveraging the OpenAI API for chat generation and processing, integrating Google Speech for voice input/output on a Raspberry Pi with SolidWorks-designed hardware. This Alexa-like assistant highlights skills in embedded systems, API integration, and natural language processing (NLP).
Virtual Power Plant Deep Learning
Creating optimization applications through deep learning for testing a virtual power plant with DERNetSoft, a DER company based in San Francisco, California.
Neural Network, from Scratch
Built simple one-layer and two-layer neural networks from scratch using Python and NumPy, solving the XOR problem with a sigmoid activation function. This hands-on project demonstrates understanding of neural network fundamentals and matrix-based computations.
Research
Semiconductor Impurities
Completed, measured, and assisted in the publication (in process of) of research in semiconductor impurities and the impact of interstitial hydrogen in semiconductors to increase conductivity (through annealing).
Ultrabroadband Optical Limiting
Leading research in the Advanced Fluids and Biophotonics Lab at HST funded by the Department of Defense on protecting sensitive optical equipment by responsive optical limiting, using a colloid solution that decreases transmittance depending on the intensity of incoming light.
Multi-agent Homogenous Systems
Converting CaTL syntax into executable Python scripts that allow multiple robots to navigate around uncertain environments simultaneously and without centralization, using ROS and the Autonomous Intelligence Robotics Lab's Optitrack camera system for positioning.
Recent
➤ March 2025:
Present findings on phase diagram research for colloid constituent composition for sufficient optical limiting at the March 2025 American Physical Society (APS) in Anaheim, CA.
Joined the Lehigh Space Initiative.
➤ February 2025:
Secured a 10-week internship for Summer 2025 in San Francisco, for Startup Academy, in partnership with Lehigh@Nasdaq.
As a lab analyst, joined a projected team for DERNetSoft for optimizing a neural network for a virtual power plant (VPP) and creating a database using CAISO API.
➤ January 2025:
Go to Silicon Valley for a 5-day immersion program, discussing with SV CEOs and venture capitalists, and performing live case studies.
Secured a spring internship with Celebr8 Life as a business development intern for scaling their startup.
Received $150 EUREKA grant for resume-ATS-optimization startup.
Began 12-week research program with Algoverse in LLM-research in RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation).
➤ December 2024:
Abstract Poster for APS March Meeting was accepted.
Received $900 IDEAS grant for APS March Meeting week-trip in Anaheim, CA.
➤ November 2024:
Gained my CSWA-A certification for CAD design with a perfect score.
Received $625 Student Opportunity Fund grant for winter-term Lehigh Silicon Valley experience.
➤ October 2024:
Began the publication process for my work with semiconductor impurity analysis.
➤ September 2024:
Started new position as a peer tutor for MAT033 for the Center of Academic Success.
Started new position as a technical lab analyst for the Energy Systems Engineering Lab at Packard Laboratory.
➤ August 2024:
Started contractual position as a grader for MAT033 for the PC Rossin College of Engineering.
Started contractual position as a teaching assistant for ENGR/FE005 for electrical and computer engineering for the PC Rossin College of Engineering.
➤ March 2024:
Received $500 EUREKA Pitch Grant for startups from the Baker Institute of Entrepreneurship.
➤ December 2023:
Created my ENGR010 Capstone project, utilizing OpenAI's API and CAD skills to create a
➤ September 2023:
Began work as a user experience analyst for Lehigh's Auxiliary Services Office
Began volunteer work as a disability service note-taker.