About
Welcome
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at UCLA, specializing in robotics research that bridges the gap between simulation and real-world applications. My work focuses on advancing robotic manipulation of deformable objects through innovative tactile sensing and control strategies.
Research Focus
My research integrates three core areas to advance robotic manipulation capabilities:
| Tactile Sensing | Developing advanced sensors that provide robots with human-like touch perception |
| Deformable Object Modeling | Creating computational models that capture the complex dynamics of flexible materials |
| Manipulation | Developing learning-based algorithms for precise control and manipulation of diverse objects with robotic systems |
The primary goal of my Ph.D. research is to demonstrate that by leveraging both visual and force feedback, we can successfully bridge the Sim2Real gap in deformable object manipulation. This approach enables robots to gain a more nuanced understanding of object internal states, leading to more robust and adaptable control strategies.
Education
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering | University of California, Los Angeles
Samueli School of Engineering | August 2021 – Present
Specialization: Design, Robotics and Manufacturing
Advisor: Prof. Veronica Santos
M.S. in Robotics | Carnegie Mellon University
School of Computer Science | May 2019 – August 2021
Advisor: Prof. Howie Choset
Thesis: Stiffness Mapping of Deformable Objects Through Supervised Embedding and Gaussian Process Regression
B.S. in Physics | Carnegie Mellon University
Mellon College of Science | August 2015 – May 2019
Specialization: Applied Physics
Recognition & Awards
Amazon Fellow (2024)
UCLA Science Hub for Humanity and Artificial Intelligence
Selected for the competitive Amazon Fellowship program supporting doctoral research in AI and robotics
ICRA Outstanding Mechanisms and Design Paper Award (2022)
“Design of a Biomimetic Tactile Sensor for Material Classification”
Recognized for innovative sensor design combining biological inspiration with practical engineering
ISMR Best Paper Nomination (2021)
“Toward Robotically Automated Femoral Vascular Access”
Acknowledged for contributions to medical robotics and autonomous surgical systems
Carnegie Mellon University Senior Leadership Award (2019)
Founding and managing the Carnegie Mellon Physics steering committee
Mellon College of Science Graduation Honors (2019)
Recognition for academic excellence and extended research contributions
Summer Internship Experience Fund (2016)
Carnegie Mellon University
Grant recipient for research collaboration with Prof. Dan Goldman at Georgia Tech