EDUCATION
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA | 2019–Present
Viterbi School of Engineering
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
2023–2027 | GPA: 4.00
M.S. in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
2021–2023 | GPA: 4.00
B.S. in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
2019–2023 | GPA: 3.77
Highland Park High School
Highland Park, IL | 2015–2019
WORK EXPERIENCE
Ph.D. Research — Combustion Physics, Computer Vision, and Scientific Machine Learning
Combustion Physics Lab, University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA | 2023 – Present
Lead doctoral research on quasi-2D flame dynamics using a Hele-Shaw combustion apparatus, generating high-speed imaging datasets for combustion analysis, computer vision, and physics-based model development.
Designed and implemented a cloud-based database to organize, query, and process high-speed flame-video data.
Developed automated data-processing pipelines connecting experimental flame videos with combustion-analysis tools, including Cantera, to extract flame speeds and other key physical metrics.
Deployed server-based workflows to accelerate large-scale post-processing of combustion datasets and improve the efficiency of laminar flame-speed calculations.
Implemented autoencoder-based neural-network architectures for flame-shape classification and reduced-dimensional representation of complex flame dynamics.
Developed physics-informed neural-network models for custom 2D and 3D flame simulations by incorporating governing partial differential equations into the learning framework.
Fund Advisor — Aerospace and Startups
Status-Quo Holdings
Remote | 2026 – Present
Advise on investment opportunities in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, robotics and artificial intelligence.
Bring technical expertise in aerospace engineering, combustion, propulsion, computational modeling, and experimental research to support startup evaluation and funding decisions.
Assess early-stage companies by reviewing technical feasibility, market relevance, engineering risk, product defensibility, and founder execution capability.
Help identify whether proposed technologies are scientifically credible, commercially promising, and aligned with long-term innovation trends in aerospace and engineering.
Translate complex technical concepts into practical investment insights for non-specialist stakeholders.
Mathematics AI Research Assistant — SURF Award Recipient
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA | September 2021–August 2022
Full-time: Summer 2022 | Part-time: Academic Year
Conducted research at the intersection of graph theory, optimization, and machine learning, with a focus on neural-network approaches to the Max-Cut problem.
Created datasets of adjacency matrices and corresponding maximum cuts to train and evaluate machine-learning models.
Compared neural-network performance against Goemans-Williamson algorithm outputs, evaluating the limits of learned approximations for combinatorial optimization.
Designed and optimized an unsupervised neural network with a custom loss function to estimate Max-Cut
Studied optimization problems involving the integral over the boundary of a convex set under a Gaussian distribution.
Identified symmetry properties in polygons that reduced certain maximization problems to the “two-line case.”
Developed proof-based arguments showing contradictions that arise when applying a triangle-collapsing method to reach the two-line case under biaxial symmetry.
AI Integration & Mechanical Engineering Intern
Accurate Metal Fabricating
Chicago, IL | Summers 2021–2022; Remote 2023
Integrated a GPT-based chatbot using OpenAI’s API to provide easier access to key company server metrics, reducing quoting turnaround time from approximately one week to under two hours.
Led workflow integration of acquired company Marvel Metals Inc. into Accurate Metal Fabricating’s production process by developing job travelers and machine programs for 20 Marvel products.
Identified and corrected 105 inconsistencies between Marvel Metals’ quoting and production methods, improving alignment between estimating and shop-floor execution.
Optimized manufacturing workflow to maintain production output with 10% less staffing.
Academic Tutor
B.C. Academics
Highland Park, IL | 2015–Present
Los Angeles, CA | 2019–Present
Founded and managed a private tutoring practice for high-school and college-level students in mathematics, engineering, economics, and science.
Delivered individualized instruction in proof-based mathematics and technical coursework, including Real Analysis, Linear Algebra, Calculus I–III, Business Calculus, Economics, Chemistry, and Physics.
Taught students how to responsibly use AI tools to support learning, including prompt design, workflow integration, critical evaluation of outputs, and appropriate caution around accuracy, overreliance, and academic integrity.
Public Speaking & Dyslexia Advocacy
Highland Park, IL | July 2017–May 2019
Delivered public-speaking engagements on dyslexia, assistive technology, learning differences, and academic confidence for students, educators, special education professionals, and community audiences.
Served as a guest speaker for disability-awareness and dyslexia-education programs, including Educating Outside the Lines, North Shore School District 112, Lincoln Elementary School, Everyone Reading Illinois, and Professionals in Learning Disabilities and Special Education.
Spoke to K–12 students about navigating school with dyslexia, using accommodations effectively, building self-advocacy skills, and recognizing learning differences as strengths.
Mentored incoming high-school freshmen through Ready, Set, High School Success, sharing academic, social, and extracurricular guidance to support the transition into high school.
Mathematics:
Awards and recognition
Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Student Achievement Award for Outstanding Ingenuity and Performance:
William Lowell Putnam Math Competition: 2022
Honor Roll - Finalist (Rank 381)
William Lowell Putnam Math Competition: 2021
Honor Roll - Finalist (Rank 423)
LOCKHEED MARTIN STEM SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: 2019
JAMES CLERK MAXWELL AWARD IN PHYSICS - ELECTROMAGNETISM: 2019
MATHWORKS MATH MODELING CHALLENGE: 2019
Semi-Finalist (National Competition)
AMERICAN MATH COMPETITION (AMC 12): 2018
Honor Roll Recipient (Top 1000)
RENSSELAER MEDAL IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE RECIPIENT: 2018
HPHS MATH TEAM ORALIST: 2017 - 2019
1st Place Oralist (Regionals) - Senior 2018
1st Place Oralist (Regionals) - Junior 2017
HPHS MATH TEAM
1st Place Perfect Paper (Regionals) - Sophomore 2016
1st Place Perfect Paper (Regionals) - Freshman 2015
NSSD Math Olympiad
Highest Individual Score (State) - 2012
OTHER:
HONORS, AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
USC VITERBI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING FELLOW MERIT RESEARCH AWARD:
2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROGRAM GRANT RECIPIENT:
Received funding in the summer of 2022 to research “Gaussian Reverse Isoperimetry and Deep Learning Approaches to Graph Cut Problems.”
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF LEADERSHIP AND SUCCESS CHAPTER AT USC:
2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
COCA-COLA SCHOLARS SEMIFINALIST: 2019
Chosen as one of 1800 high school seniors nationwide from a pool of 95,000 applicants as a semi-finalist due to outstanding leadership, academics, and dedication to my community.
ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISION STATE SCHOLAR: 2018-2019
State Scholars are among “the best and the brightest” of Illinois high school seniors in the Class of 2019.
highland park high school honor society: 2018
SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE
FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Awards & Recognition
Teams 6287 Vertigo, 5452 Robot to the Knee, and 11056 Twist | 2016–2019
Competed in FIRST Tech Challenge robotics at the state, super-regional, and world-championship levels, earning recognition for robot design, innovation, control systems, outreach, leadership, and team performance.
Named a FIRST Dean’s List Semifinalist in 2017, recognizing student leaders who serve as ambassadors for FIRST through outreach, fundraising, technical leadership, and academic excellence.
Won the Inspire Award at the 2019 FTC Illinois State Championship, the highest team honor in FTC, recognizing excellence across robot design, performance, engineering process, outreach, and team culture.
Earned the Motivate Award at the 2019 FTC World Championship in Detroit with Team 6287 Vertigo.
Served as Captain of the Winning Alliance at the 2019 and 2018 FTC Highland Park State Qualifier Championships.
Earned major FTC awards and finalist recognition, including the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award, Control Award, Think Award, Design Award, Connect Award, and Motivate Award.