Resume

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

PhD - Department of Mechanical Engineering                                           June 2012 (Expected)

Major Emphasis: Controls/Robotics

Minor Emphasis: Business Strategy (Sloan)

Advisor: Dr. Karl Iagnemma

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

MS Mechanical Engineering                                                                                      June 2009

Thesis: A Unified Framework for Trajectory Planning, Threat Assessment, and Semi-Autonomous Control of Passenger Vehicles 

MIT Lean Aerospace Initiative (LAI) Academy, Cambridge, MA                                     Jan. 2009

Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

BS Mechanical Engineering, Minor Mathematics                                                       Aug.  2007

Graduate Research Assistant, MIT Robotic Mobility Group                            Sept. 2007—Present

·  Invented a novel planning and control framework for motion planning, threat assessment, and shared-adaptive or autonomous control of passenger vehicles -- patents pending

· Worked with a team of engineers and project managers from MIT and Ford Motor Corporation to validate this framework via 800 experimental trials with 8 different human drivers on a Jaguar S-Type

· Secured over $1.8 million in research funding

Product Design Engineer, MIT Precision Machine Design Team                            Sept.—Dec. 2009

· Worked with a team of doctors and engineers to develop an inexpensive, single-use device that completely eliminates fogging and obstruction of the distal end of a laparoscope during minimally-invasive surgical procedures

· Presented the product, its clinical need, and potential cost savings to doctors, medical device professionals, and potential investors at the 2010 ASME Design of Medical Devices Conference (see Awards)

Management Consultant, MIT Venture Mentoring Service                                     Feb.—June 2008

·  Devised a market-launch strategy to strategically position this startup’s disruptive display technology

·  Presented an actionable go-to-market plan to senior management

· Company subsequently named to 2011 Red Herring Top 100 based on financial performance, technology innovation, quality of management, execution of strategy, and integration into its industry. Alumni of this list include Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Skype, Yahoo, eBay, and Salesforce.com.

Research Assistant, BYU Compliant Mechanisms Research Group                Sept. 2006—Aug. 2007

·  Designed a fully-compliant, bistable acceleration sensor capable of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for acceleration-sensing and shock-history applications

·  Designed a damped ortho-planar spring that offers significant size and performance advantages when compared to traditional spring-damper systems  (see Awards)

Design Engineer (Intern), The Boeing Company                                                     June—Aug. 2006

·  Developed a design method that reduces standard tool redesign by 80% by integrating tool design, stress analysis, and model generation

·  Demonstrated design process by redesigning tooling for a new aircraft derivative (Boeing 747-800), achieving full manufacturing process compatibility with minimal infrastructure modification (see Awards)

·  Presented tool redesign method to senior management, leading to a fundamental shift in tool redesign process that is still in use today 

Leadership

·  Organizer, MIT VentureShips                                                                          June 2008—Dec. 2008

Directed technology strategy and market research collaborations between students and early-stage startup companies

·  Executive Board, MIT Science and Engineering Business Club (SEBC)        Feb. 2008—Jan. 2009

Directed informational and networking events related to technology and entrepreneurship for the largest business club at MIT (over 1,300 active members including undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows across all schools)

·  Assistant to the President, Ecuador, Guayaquil South Mission                     Aug. 2002—Aug. 2004

- Managed 180 international full-time volunteers stationed throughout Southern Ecuador (population: 13 million)

- Established performance metrics and set mission-wide goals while overseeing 16 direct reports

- Managed mission zoning and the allocation of mission resources, assigned lower-level leadership, and oversaw regular rotations among the missionaries to optimize mission performance

- Held regular leadership training conferences and community outreach events

Awards

·  Academic: 

Three-In-Five Competition Winner, ASME Design of Medical Devices Conference – awarded for the best medical device design, pitch, and fundability (2010)

Seminar Series Winner, MIT Laboratory for Manufacturing Productivity (2009)

Best compliant mechanism design award – ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference (2008)

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellow (2007-10)

Tau Beta Pi Fellow – awarded for outstanding scholarship and exemplary character (2007-08)

Barry M. Goldwater Scholar– most prestigious award in the U.S. for undergraduates in the sciences (2006-07)

Tau Beta Pi Record Scholar– awarded for high scholarship, campus leadership, and potential (2006-07)

Karl G. Maeser Scholar– awarded for demonstrated commitment to service (2006-07)

BYU Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) research grant (2006)

·  Professional: 

Pride at Boeing Award – for exemplary contribution to the 787 rudder tool (2006)

·  Other:        

Eagle Scout (1996)

BYU International DanceSport Bronze American Cha-Cha event: 2nd place (out of 256) (2005)