CV
Education
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering San Francisco State University (SFSU), San Francisco CA | May 2026 | GPA: 3.82 | Dean’s List (Fall 2023 – Spring 2026)
Previous Coursework Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill CA | Fall 2016 – Spring 2023
- Engineering drawing, engineering materials, calculus, physics, MATLAB, chemistry, biology
Las Positas College, Livermore CA | Fall 2018 – Spring 2019
- Metallurgy, print reading, welding processes
Honors & Certifications
FE Exam (Mechanical), NCEES — Passed April 2026
Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement Award — SFSU College of Engineering, 2026
Tau Beta Pi, California Alpha Gamma Chapter — Engineering Honor Society Initiated Spring 2025 | Vice President, Spring 2025 – Spring 2026
Skills
Mechanical Fabrication & Machining: Manual mills and lathes; precision assemblies and tolerances; press-fit and slip-fit design; welding (TIG, MIG, stick, flux-core); thermal and plasma cutting; hand and power tools
Design & Manufacturing: CAD (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, OpenSCAD); engineering drawings and print reading; design-for-manufacture; material selection; shop safety and documentation
Diagnostics & Experimental Support: Mechanical diagnostics; alignment and calibration; test setup and execution; experimental hardware support
Electromechanical & Automation: Servo and stepper motor systems; Arduino and Raspberry Pi GPIO; sensor integration; soldering; embedded system assembly
Software & Computational: Python, MATLAB, C++, Git/GitHub, LaTeX
Experience
Bioengineering Undergraduate Researcher | San Francisco State University | Fall 2024 – Present
- Provide mechanical and experimental hardware support for automated imaging platforms used in biological research
- Design, fabricate, and modify custom mechanical components and fixtures through iterative design-build cycles
- Serve as primary troubleshooting resource for mechanical, electromechanical, and automation failures
- Collaborate directly with biologists to translate experimental needs into engineering solutions
Center for Cellular Construction (NSF) Summer Course | San Francisco State University | August 2025
- Selected for NSF-funded intensive course on rapid development of robotic and automated microscopy systems
- Performed primary hands-on fabrication and participated in assembly, software integration, and alignment
- Operated completed system for two weeks to collect experimental data
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Researcher | San Francisco State University | Fall 2024
- Designed and fabricated tensegrity structure prototypes using steel, elastic elements, Kevlar, and wood
- Evaluated mechanical behavior through hands-on assembly and informal load testing
Engineering Machine Shop Assistant | San Francisco State University | September 2024 – Present
- Support 5–10 project teams and 30+ students per semester on mills, lathes, welding, 3D printers, laser cutters, and waterjet
- Trained and mentored 5 junior assistants on equipment operation, DFM, tolerance analysis, and shop safety
- Authored SOPs, equipment guides, and safety documentation
Designer, Fabricator & Reverse Engineer (Independent) | 2022 – Present
- Reverse-engineer and fabricate mechanically sensitive replacement components for antique typewriters — 100+ prototype iterations across six machine models
- Design parts installed and operated in working machines, including components sold to external users
Exhibit Developer & Engineer | Exploratorium, San Francisco CA | September 2025
- Designed, fabricated, and assembled a hands-on mechanical exhibit for public demonstration
- Supported real-time operation during a high-traffic public event
TIG Welder & Fabricator | Altamont Manufacturing, Livermore CA | April 2019 – April 2022
- Fabricated precision mechanical components under tight tolerances from engineering drawings
- TIG welded steel and aluminum assemblies; operated mills and lathes for part preparation
- Identified and corrected fit-up, alignment, and thermal distortion issues
Grants & Funding
Research Student Fellowship ($23/hr) | Fall 2025 Sponsored research for automated imaging systems in Esquerra Lab at SFSU, funded by the Kenneth Fong Translational Research Award.
Gilead Innovation Initiative Summer Internship Award ($2,000) | Summer 2025 Sponsored independent research on FluorCam in Esquerra Lab at SFSU.
Presentations
Oral Presentations
- Chau, L., et al. (July 2025). FluorCam: A Low Cost, High-Throughput, Automated Platform for Fluorescent Microscopy. Gilead Scholars Research Program Symposium. San Francisco, CA.
- Chau, L., et al. (July 2025). FluorCam: A Low Cost, High-Throughput, Automated Platform for Fluorescent Microscopy. Student Enrichment Office Annual Research Symposium. San Francisco, CA.
Poster Presentations
- Chau, L., et al. (August 2025). FluorCam: A Low Cost, High-Throughput, Automated Platform for Fluorescent Microscopy. Center for Cellular Construction Summer Retreat. Tiburon, CA.
Selected Projects
See the Projects page for full write-ups.
- Stability COMmander — STM32 embedded tip-over prevention; Simulink HIL + fabricated prototype (2026)
- FluorCam — $500 open-source fluorescence microscope (2024–Present)
- StentorCam — automated dark-field imaging for Stentor coeruleus research (2024–Present)
- HPWriter — concept for a silent digital typewriter using an HP45 inkjet cartridge (early-stage idea)
- 3D Type Elements — parametric resin-printed replacement parts for antique typewriters (2022–Present)