Research and Experience

Boyce Lab: Research Assistant and Adv. Masters Researcher

Graduate research on soft robotics and mechanically intelligent structures
CAD-driven parametric design and nonlinear FEA (Abaqus)
Multimaterial fabrication and mechanical testing
Projects on grippers, bistability, programmable metamaterials, and parallel mechanisms
Independent research under faculty supervision (AMR track)

Conducted exploratory research on soft robotic actuation, focusing on Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) for sheet-like robotic systems
Investigated material–electrode–geometry interactions affecting actuation performance, failure modes, and repeatability
Designed CAD-driven planar geometries with stiffness contrast to bias deformation and induce bending
Prototyped and tested multiple elastomer substrates, electrode materials, and coatings under high-voltage excitation
Identified practical limitations related to electrical breakdown, arcing, and material durability, informing future design directions

Worked on mechanism and system design for medical devices in a regulated healthcare environment
Contributed to novel device concepts and architectures that resulted in patent applications
Performed CAD modeling, tolerance-aware design, and prototyping with consideration for manufacturability and assembly
Participated in system-level trade-off analysis involving safety, usability, reliability, and cost

Participated in hands-on engineering projects spanning aerial robotics, control systems, and mechanism design
Built and tested multi-rotor drone platforms, including heavy-lift and enclosed-frame designs
Developed a self-balancing bicycle, focusing on dynamics modeling and control implementation
Designed and prototyped bio-inspired mechanisms, including an ornithopter wing
Gained experience with fabrication, electronics integration, field testing, and team-based engineering workflows

Related work: Foundational Engineering Projects

Reverse-engineered T-90 tank gearboxes using legacy documentation to establish modern design specifications.
Analyzed high-torque distributing mechanisms to identify mechanical bottlenecks and efficiency improvements.
Proposed design amendments for integrating T-90 power transmission logic into the IMV Tank Project.
Performed technical feasibility studies on modified gearbox models for next-generation armored vehicles.

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