Team 1: Northwestern University
Advisor: Dr. Ping Guo
Guanzhong Hu
Guanzhong Hu received his B.S. degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2021 and his M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University in 2022. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University. His research focuses on process monitoring and inspection for advanced manufacturing, including high-precision three-dimensional metrology, defect detection, and ultrasonic measurement. His work involves vision-based 3D measurement, in-situ layer-wise inspection, and three-dimensional anomaly analysis for manufacturing processes.
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Mengzhe Yu
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Malachi Landis
Malachi Landis is a Mechanical Engineering NDSEG Fellow at Northwestern University working primarily on solid-state metal additive manufacturing with Professor Ping Guo, with additional work on swarm robots for surface texturing. He graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2022, and has worked in a machine shop and as a mechanical design engineer for AGI Corporation in Huntsville, designing assembly and test fixtures primarily for the automotive industry. He enjoys any chance to build something and will seldom pass up the chance to CAD, print, mill, or weld as a favor for someone else.
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Team 2: San José State University
Advisor: Dr. Burford Furman
Armando Rodriguez Nava
Armando Rodriguez Nava received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Riverside, and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at San Jose State University. His current projects include developing a thermal sensing drone and participating in the L’Space Mission Concept Academy. Armando is eager to dive deeper into precision design and is assisting in the development of a Precision Engineering Club at SJSU, with plans to grow the club and initiate similar projects. Outside of projects, he enjoys hiking, and is learning to play the guitar and tennis.
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Alexander R Maxwell
Alexander R Maxwell earned his B.S. in Computer Engineering with a minor in Physics and Mathematics at Sacramento State University, and an M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering at University of California: Santa Cruz. He is currently pursuing his M.S. in Applied Mathematics at San Jose State University. His previous research includes machine learning and data science, but he recently gained a newfound interest for digital signal processing and audio engineering. He hopes to bridge his passion in playing music with his experiences as an engineer.
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Reyad Ramsey
Rey Ramsey is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate student with a strong interest in precise mechanical design, and advanced manufacturing. He tries to channel the need for mental engagement into designing accurate, reliable, and innovative mechanical systems, with particular interests in precision mechanisms, flexure systems, and additive manufacturing. His current goal is to use developed skills in CAD, analysis, manufacturing, and engineering design to pursue a career as a precision design engineer and complete his Graduate project in Advanced manufacturing.
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Ryan Chastaine
Ryan Chastaine is currently in his second year pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at San Jose State University. He spent his first year designing aerodynamic components for Spartan Racing’s SR17 on the SJSU Formula SAE Electric team. He now serves as the Vice President of the SJSU Precision Engineering Club. Outside of academics. Ryan enjoys his 1950 Ford truck restoration project, hobby CNC machining, and 3D printing.
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Lee Vien Cantong
Lee Vien Cantong is a Mechanical Engineering student at San José State University, expected to graduate in 2027. Their interests include mechanical design, manufacturing, and mechatronics systems. Their projects include designing an autonomous firefighting tank, machining a music box’s cylinder from scratch, and more. Outside of engineering, they enjoy volunteering at their university’s garden, cooking, and reading sci-fi books!
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Team 3: University of Texas at Austin
Advisor: Dr. Michael Cullinan
Joshua Cielo
Joshua Cielo received his B.S. in Physics from UCLA in 2023 and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin’s Nanoscale Design and Manufacturing Lab under Dr. Michael Cullinan. His research focuses on designing, manufacturing, and controlling a MEMS-based interfacial force microscope capable of measuring forces with piconewton scale force resolution and sub-nanometer spatial resolution. Joshua is also the co-President of UT’s Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Board. Outside of the lab, Joshua is an improv comedian and can usually be found at one of Austin’s many theaters (except the Mothership).
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Gavin Stafford
Gavin Stafford received B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Physics at Clemson University in 2023, followed by his M.S. in ME at Clemson in 2024. He is currently a 3rd year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering with the Nanoscale Design and Manufacturing Lab at UT Austin. His research is centered around developing a high resolution, high throughput holographic metasurface-based additive manufacturing tool with applications in semiconductor packaging. Outside of the lab, Gavin enjoys reading books, running track, and cycling.
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Andrew Gray
Andrew Gray is a current NDSEG Fellow pursuing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin, working with Dr. Michael Cullinan on next generation robotic materials and MEMS actuators with tunable stiffness. He received his B.S in Engineering Sciences from Trinity University in 2023, and his M.S in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin in 2025. He is primarily interested in bridging the gap between academic ideas and the semiconductor industry, transforming proof of concept designs into scalable applications for advanced packaging, fab equipment, failure analysis, and other semiconductor applications. In his free time, he enjoys disc golf, live music, and gardening.
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Daria C. Holoman
Daria C. Holoman received their B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2025. Currently, Daria is pursuing their Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin’s Nanoscale Design and Manufacturing Lab. Their research focuses on machine design and process characterization for the 3D printing of microelectronics packages, as well as the optimization of Titanium-based dry-electrodes for wearable surface electromyography (sEMG). Outside of research, Daria is active with the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Board (MEGSB), taking on the role of secretary. They also enjoy playing volleyball, hosting game nights with friends, and crafting!
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Team 4: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign & University of Michigan
Advisor: Dr. Mickey Clemon
Victoria You
Victoria You is a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign doing a dual degree in Mechanical Engineering and Physics with a minor in Semiconductor Engineering. Victoria is currently doing research in quantum photonics integration and completed a microfabrication process engineering co-op at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Fall 2025. This past summer, she was a mechatronics intern at KLA.
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Sergio Bahena
Sergio Bahena is currently pursuing his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and he currently works as a technician for the Micro-Nano Mechanical Systems Cleanroom.
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Justin Lin
Justin Lin is a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he earned his B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering and is now pursuing his M.S.E. through the SUGS program. His interest in engineering began with a desire to understand how things work and has grown into a passion for precision engineering, metrology, and hands-on design. At Michigan, Justin was involved in M-Fly as a mechanical systems lead, designing and building aircraft mechanisms. He has also gained professional experience through internships at KLA, where he worked on semiconductor metrology equipment, Cascade Engineering, and California Closets. Outside of academics and work, he enjoys fishing, hiking, longboarding, tennis, and computer games. Two fun facts about Justin are that he is a twin and can solve a Rubik’s Cube.
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Jebril Thaxton
Jebril Thaxton is a PhD student at university of Michigan and a Navy veteran, currently doing research in silicon photonics.
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Team 5: University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Team 1 & Navajo Technical University
Advisor: Dr. Jaime Berez
Hadarel Rappaport
Hadarel Rappaport earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Carolina Charlotte in 2023. Having been involved with the Center for Precision Metrology and the ASPE chapter as an undergraduate, he decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UNC Charlotte at the start of 2024. Hadarel mainly splits his time between two projects: One, a project under supervision of Dr. Jimmie Miller, focuses on large scale manufacturing using small scale machines. Another project, under supervision of Dr. Kosta Falaggis, works on defect detection using circularly polarized light systems. In his free time, Hadarel enjoys working with audio equipment, painting, and a good night of losing in board games.
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Tien Herd
Tien Herd received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UNC Charlotte in 2022 and his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UNC Charlotte in 2023. Tien is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UNC Charlotte’s Center for Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Ceramics and a visiting researcher of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Extreme Environment Materials Processing group. His research focuses on additive manufacturing of silicon carbide (SiC) for stereolithography with a strong background in manufacturing and metrology.
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Aidan Restelli
Aidan Restelli received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from UNC Charlotte in 2024 and 2025, respectively. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UNC Charlotte. His research focuses on laser-material interactions and the laser-based synthesis and processing of advanced ceramic materials, particularly polymer-derived ceramics. His work investigates processing mechanisms, material transformation, and process-property relationships for direct ceramic additive manufacturing. Outside of research, Aidan enjoys 3D printing, biking, and gardening, where he grows a variety of vegetables and herbs.
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Team 6: University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Team 2 & University of Maryland
Advisor: Dr. Jaime Berez
Mahzad Sarghassabi
Mahzad Sarghassabi is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research focuses on optical metrology, laser-based measurement systems, and acousto-optic technologies for precision engineering and advanced manufacturing. She is passionate about developing high-accuracy optical instrumentation and enjoy combining engineering, optics, and electronics to solve challenging measurement problems.
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Diptayan Dasgupta
Diptayan Dasgupta earned his B.S. in Optics and Optoelectronics Engineering from the University of Calcutta in 2023 and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Working at the Center for Precision Metrology, his research focuses on adhesive induced forces and deformations on precision optical assemblies. Outside the lab, he loves to play soccer and composes music in his basement studio.
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Ryan Ernesty
Ryan Ernesty is currently pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at University of North Carolina Charlotte with a concentration in Precision Engineering and Metrology. He has gained extensive experience in professional communication, the engineering design process, and real-world design in internships in the construction industry and is currently looking for opportunities in the precision engineering space. Proficient in machining, CAD, and the Microsoft Suite he has a strong base to build off of in any future employment. Beyond that, Ryan is an avid reader, rock climber, and vinyl collector
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Jordan Love
Jordan Love is a third-year Computer Engineering student at the University of Maryland who works part-time in metrology at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. His work there has been primarily on components of the tabletop kibble balance KIBB-g2 for the SI mass standard.
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Team 7: University of Wisconsin-Madison & Southern University of Science and Technology
Advisor: Dr. Lei Zhou
Daniil Kirsanov
Daniil Kirsanov received his B.S. in Mechatronics and Robotics from Saratov State Technical University. He then received his M.S. in Robotics from Innopolis University in Russia, focusing on modeling and control of twisted string actuators. He was a Fulbright Visiting Student at The University of Texas at Austin, where he pursued a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. During this time, his research centered on the design of a novel linear soft electromagnetic actuator. Daniil is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UW-Madison. His research focuses on a piezoelectric brake for compact integration into direct-drive robotic actuators. Outside of research, Daniil’s interests include music, long-distance cycling, and framebuilding.
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Benjamin Prunuske
Benjamin Prunuske received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2026, graduating with honors in research for his work as a Faustin Prinz Undergraduate Research Fellow. Benjamin now pursues an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with the Precision Mechatronics and Controls Lab at UW–Madison. His research focuses on design and control of magnetically levitated precision motion systems for use in photolithography machines. Beyond academics, Benjamin enjoys playing basketball and spending time outdoors including camping and hiking.
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Mohammad Erfani
Mohammad Erfani is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned his B.S. in 2019 and his M.S. in 2022, both in Mechanical Engineering, from the University of Tehran. His research during his undergraduate and master’s studies was centered on the design, manufacturing, and development of a device for evaluating patient pain thresholds, as well as the design and implementation of predictive field-oriented control for permanent magnet linear synchronous actuators. In his leisure time, Mohammad enjoys listening to podcasts, reading books, engaging in workouts, and bouldering.
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Qingwei Zeng
Qingwei Zeng is a B.Eng. student in Mechanical and Energy Engineering at SUSTech. Under Prof. Yongbo Wu, he researches ultrasonic nanomachining of SiC. He works in SUSTech’s precision processing lab on several projects, using AFM to characterize nanoscale machining. Outside the research, he is an active volunteer and a running lover.
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