Education
Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, June 2019
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, June 2018
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) – Lyngby, Denmark
Study Abroad, August – December 2015
Technological Skills & Languages
Mechanical Design: PTC Creo Parametric (Pro-E), AutoCAD, SolidWorks,
Simulations: COMSOL Multiphysics (FEA), ANSYS, Autodesk Moldflow, FEniCS Package
Fabrication Tools: CNC, Mills, Lathe, Injection Molding, Laser cutter, 3D Printers (SLA, FDM), Soldering, Hand Tools
Programming and System Modelling: MATLAB, VBA, Python, Simulink, LabView
Electronics: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, TIVA Launchpad
Project Management & Other Skills: MIE Trak Pro (ERP/MRP), BioLogic, Linux (Ubuntu 14), Microsoft Office (MS Word, Access, Excel, Outlook), LaTex
Languages: Tamil (Bilingual), Hindi (Intermediate), German (Intermediate), Japanese (Elementary)
Work Experience
R&D Mechanical Engineer – Load Control Technologies, PA
July 2019 – Present
- Conceived and designed a non-magnetic bolt investigation system to optimize measurements at varying temperature for the ultrasonic transducer, and improve validation methodology
- Developing the internal system design and packaging for an optomechanical system to detect the ultrasonic transducer on bolts as part of the next generation product development
- Designing the packaging for a micro-scale wireless temperature sensor to optimize the ultrasonic wavelength used for load measurements, and debugging any issues with the design using root cause analysis
- Rapid Prototyping components to develop feasibility studies with functional models using 3D Printing (Stratasys Dimensions, Lulzbot Mini, FormLabs 2), Machining and Injection Molding
- Researching and liaising with different vendors and OEMs to reduce manufacturing time
- Designing custom tooling equipped with I-bolt technology as per customer requirements and supporting production with safety and process improvement
Project Management Co-op – PECO, PA
March – September 2016
- Crafted an automated ‘track and respond’ tool to manage on over 250 solar-grid approval requests, and directed project workflow using Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS)
- Liaised between customers and PECO engineers at Philadelphia and Berwyn to fulfill more than 50 regional projects
- Trained two co-ops to take over the job responsibilities
Mechanical Engineering Co-op – Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, PA
March to August – 2015
- Reverse engineered the EM wave applicator MA120, an FDA compliant medical device that is used in the hyperthermia treatment of cancer and modeled it in Creo Parametric
- Designed and investigated the efficacy of different water bolus designs on a heterogeneous tissue model using FEA in COMSOL with CFD, Heat Transfer, and EMW Modules to improve patient’s healthcare quality
- Developed an automated investigation system in LabVIEW and tested the heat distribution under transient and steady-state conditions using 16 thermocouples
- Drafted documentation for replicating bolus design, and shared the research poster at the 2016 NCRC Research Conference in Harvard University
Teaching Assistant & Peer Mentor – Drexel University, PA
2014 – 2019
- Taught Dynamics to a class of 120 mechanical engineering students, and developed lesson plans and exams in collaboration with the professor
- Collaborated with the Lindy Center team and various professors within Drexel to teach and mentor 200+ freshman engineering classes to develop experiments such as basket robots and airfoil testing for demonstration within the Philadelphia community; includes coordinated presence during the Franklin Institute Science Festival in Philadelphia
- Mentored various classes of 40 incoming freshmen with the Rube-Goldberg experiment, which involved working with renewable sources of energy, energy transfer methods, and 3D printing; includes at least 48 unique experimental setups
- Mentored senior design student groups in projects, and maintained the logistics for the Senior Design for the graduating class of 240+ students
Research Assistant – Drexel University, PA
2015 – 2016
- Constructed open tunnel oxides of transition metals using a variable combination of a thermoplastic fluoropolymer and carbon black
- Devised three-electrode cells with fabricated material to investigate electrochemical capabilities using BioLogic VMP3
- Replicated paper contents to assess the ability of the test material against different concentrations of acidic and basic electrolytes
- Liaised with a colleague and supervisor to evaluate the electrical properties of the test material
STAR Scholar – Drexel University, PA
June to September – 2014
- Worked on understanding the theory behind the mechanics of materials at a nanoscale level
- Investigated the characteristics of Aluminum atoms subjected to nanoindentation, for different indenter orientations using Large-Scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS), a Molecular Dynamics Program.
- Analyzed the raw data acquired from virtual stimulation using OVITO and Matlab
- Composed a poster and presented it during the STAR Summer Showcase and Drexel Research Day
Leadership and Community Experiences
- Outreach Director, ASME Philadelphia, 2019 – Present
- Community Volunteer, Lindy Center, Drexel University, 2014 – 2019
- Peer Mentor, Drexel University, 2014 – 2017
- Events Coordinator, Drexel Design Makers, and Thinkers (DLab), 2016-2017
- Volunteer, Lindy Center, 2014 – 2016
- Events Coordinator, Tau Beta Pi, 2015
- Outreach Chair, Society of Women Engineers, 2014
Honors and awards
- A. J. Drexel Scholarship, Drexel University, Fall 2013 – Spring 2018
- Dean’s list, Drexel University, Fall 2013 – Winter 2015
- Paul Peck Scholar, Drexel University, Fall 2014 – Spring 2016
Research Conferences
- National Collegiate Research Conference, Harvard University, MA, 2016
- Naval Academy Science and Engineering Conference, Annapolis, MD, 2014 (Robotics concentration)
Project Experience
Hobby Projects (CAD & Control Systems) – Ongoing
Please note that the below-mentioned projects are hobby projects.
- Designed autonomous CAD models inspired by Legos and drones; verified joint integrity and kinematics through stress and motion analysis respectively
- Modeled an aerial vehicle with a viable aerodynamic airfoil based on CyPhy Works LVL 1 drone in Creo (surface modeling); analyzed the kinematics of the model using servomotors
- Applied surface modeling to model parts comprising sculptured surfaces including an electronic mouse, a shaver, and a helmet based on images
- Determined the inverse kinematics and dynamics using Lagrangian Dynamics and DH parameters, and implemented the path planning methodology for the virtual models using MATLAB/Simulink
- Investigated the effects of different controllers such as PI, PID, LEAD and Observer-based feedback controls
- Developed dynamic models and numerical solutions for different robots using root-finding methodologies such as Newton Raphson, Secant, and Bisection in Python and MATLAB
Alto Robot – Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Denmark
Analyst/Programmer
August to December – 2015
- Calculated the Cartesian and Joint-Space trajectories along the tool path of the robot, with five degrees of freedom using real-time variables
- Determined the inertia tensor, and the linearized, decoupled dynamic model based upon DH parameters featured in related literature
- Modeled PI, PID and LEAD controllers on Simulink; assessed the impact of controllers on Alto Robot
Humanoid Arm – Drexel University, PA
Lead Designer/Programmer
January to June – 2014
- Designed a robotic arm with a multi-use end effector and four degrees of freedom using a Solid Modeling and Surface Modeling software (Pro-E/Creo)
- Effectively mimicked the arm movement using Arduino and tilt sensors; optimized the data via MATLAB
- Assembled and delivered a formal report and presentation to detail the significance and limitations of the robotic arm