Leonard Chau

B.S. Mechanical Engineering (SFSU ‘26). Maker and researcher building things at the intersection of hardware, optics, and software.

I’m Leonard Chau — a mechanical engineer, maker, and researcher from the San Francisco Bay Area. I specialize in building practical, low-cost scientific instruments that combine mechanical design, optics, electronics, and software. I love working at the intersection of old and new technology: restoring typewriters and film equipment alongside designing robotic imaging systems powered by modern software and AI.

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering — San Francisco State University
Graduated May 2026 · GPA 3.82 · Dean’s List (Fall 2023 – Spring 2026)

Studied engineering drawing, materials, calculus, physics, welding, metallurgy, and MATLAB at Diablo Valley College and Las Positas College before transferring.

Research

In Dr. Raymond Esquerra’s Bioengineering Lab at SFSU, I design robotic imaging systems — fluorescence platforms, dark-field microscopes, and depth-imaging tools — built from Raspberry Pi hardware, coaxial optics, and 3D-printed components. These systems cost a fraction of commercial instruments while delivering reproducible results for real experiments.

Key systems: FluorCam (fluorescence microscope, ~$500 vs. $20k+), StentorCam (automated dark-field platform for biological imaging), 3D-Cam (depth-imaging via single-camera mirror geometry).

This work has led to poster and oral presentations at the Gilead Scholars Symposium, Student Enrichment Office Research Symposium, and Center for Cellular Construction Summer Retreat, as well as funding through the Gilead Innovation Initiative and Kenneth Fong Translational Research Award.

Fabrication & Industry

I’ve worked as a TIG welder and fabricator at Altamont Manufacturing, building precision metal assemblies from engineering drawings under strict quality requirements. At SFSU, I worked as an Engineering Machine Shop Assistant, supporting students in machining, 3D printing, and lab equipment setup.

As VP of the 3D Printing Club and VP of Tau Beta Pi, I mentor peers, run workshops, and maintain the Innovation Space as an open fabrication environment.

Technical Skills

Design Fusion 360, SolidWorks, OpenSCAD
Fabrication TIG/MIG welding, machining, FDM + SLA 3D printing
Programming Python, C++, MATLAB
Systems Raspberry Pi, STM32 embedded, G-code motion control
Other Image processing, optical alignment, experimental design

Interests

Beyond engineering, I restore and reverse-engineer mechanical devices — motorcycles, radios, antique typewriters. One ongoing project involves designing parametric, resin-printed replacement type elements using OpenSCAD to preserve historical machines while exploring new fonts and mechanical geometries.

I believe engineering is a blend of science, art, and restoration. Old machines remind us that clever mechanisms existed before microprocessors; new technology lets us reinvent what’s possible at low cost.