Derek Phillips
Divemaster Candidate and Research Diver at Indo Ocean Project- Claim this Profile
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SQL Professional working proficiency
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MATLAB Professional working proficiency
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Italian Elementary proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Brett Griffin, PE, LEED AP
I had the pleasure of working directly with Derek this past summer during his internship program at SSR. I am very impressed by his maturity level and professionalism at such a young age. Derek possesses many skills and is very talented, but what impressed me the most was his interpersonal skills and reliability. He has a humble personality and is eager to learn, which allows him to pick up on things quickly. I am confident he will continue to develop throughout his college and professional career by proactively seeking new opportunities and advice from colleagues and mentors as he did during his summer internship at SSR. As it stands right now, Derek's skills are already way beyond his years of experience. I highly recommend him.
Kevin Graham
Derek completed an internship at SSR this summer. As the leader of the mechanical group and project manager for the Mission Bay Arena, I became very familiar with Derek and his work. Derek was excellent addition to our mechanical design team. He played an active role in HVAC design for several sports projects including the new Detroit Event Center for the Red Wings and the new Mission Bay Event Center for the Golden State Warriors, the 2015 NBA Champions. Derek is a true team player and excels with communication skills. In addition, he is a very talented mechanical engineer with superior technical skills; moreover, he has an impeccable moral character. His proficiency with Excel and REVIT are at a very high level. He is eager to take on any challenge with an ever-positive attitude and delivers every time. Bottom line, I have no doubt that Derek will become a super star mechanical engineer in the future. I give him my highest recommendation.
Brett Griffin, PE, LEED AP
I had the pleasure of working directly with Derek this past summer during his internship program at SSR. I am very impressed by his maturity level and professionalism at such a young age. Derek possesses many skills and is very talented, but what impressed me the most was his interpersonal skills and reliability. He has a humble personality and is eager to learn, which allows him to pick up on things quickly. I am confident he will continue to develop throughout his college and professional career by proactively seeking new opportunities and advice from colleagues and mentors as he did during his summer internship at SSR. As it stands right now, Derek's skills are already way beyond his years of experience. I highly recommend him.
Kevin Graham
Derek completed an internship at SSR this summer. As the leader of the mechanical group and project manager for the Mission Bay Arena, I became very familiar with Derek and his work. Derek was excellent addition to our mechanical design team. He played an active role in HVAC design for several sports projects including the new Detroit Event Center for the Red Wings and the new Mission Bay Event Center for the Golden State Warriors, the 2015 NBA Champions. Derek is a true team player and excels with communication skills. In addition, he is a very talented mechanical engineer with superior technical skills; moreover, he has an impeccable moral character. His proficiency with Excel and REVIT are at a very high level. He is eager to take on any challenge with an ever-positive attitude and delivers every time. Bottom line, I have no doubt that Derek will become a super star mechanical engineer in the future. I give him my highest recommendation.
Brett Griffin, PE, LEED AP
I had the pleasure of working directly with Derek this past summer during his internship program at SSR. I am very impressed by his maturity level and professionalism at such a young age. Derek possesses many skills and is very talented, but what impressed me the most was his interpersonal skills and reliability. He has a humble personality and is eager to learn, which allows him to pick up on things quickly. I am confident he will continue to develop throughout his college and professional career by proactively seeking new opportunities and advice from colleagues and mentors as he did during his summer internship at SSR. As it stands right now, Derek's skills are already way beyond his years of experience. I highly recommend him.
Kevin Graham
Derek completed an internship at SSR this summer. As the leader of the mechanical group and project manager for the Mission Bay Arena, I became very familiar with Derek and his work. Derek was excellent addition to our mechanical design team. He played an active role in HVAC design for several sports projects including the new Detroit Event Center for the Red Wings and the new Mission Bay Event Center for the Golden State Warriors, the 2015 NBA Champions. Derek is a true team player and excels with communication skills. In addition, he is a very talented mechanical engineer with superior technical skills; moreover, he has an impeccable moral character. His proficiency with Excel and REVIT are at a very high level. He is eager to take on any challenge with an ever-positive attitude and delivers every time. Bottom line, I have no doubt that Derek will become a super star mechanical engineer in the future. I give him my highest recommendation.
Brett Griffin, PE, LEED AP
I had the pleasure of working directly with Derek this past summer during his internship program at SSR. I am very impressed by his maturity level and professionalism at such a young age. Derek possesses many skills and is very talented, but what impressed me the most was his interpersonal skills and reliability. He has a humble personality and is eager to learn, which allows him to pick up on things quickly. I am confident he will continue to develop throughout his college and professional career by proactively seeking new opportunities and advice from colleagues and mentors as he did during his summer internship at SSR. As it stands right now, Derek's skills are already way beyond his years of experience. I highly recommend him.
Kevin Graham
Derek completed an internship at SSR this summer. As the leader of the mechanical group and project manager for the Mission Bay Arena, I became very familiar with Derek and his work. Derek was excellent addition to our mechanical design team. He played an active role in HVAC design for several sports projects including the new Detroit Event Center for the Red Wings and the new Mission Bay Event Center for the Golden State Warriors, the 2015 NBA Champions. Derek is a true team player and excels with communication skills. In addition, he is a very talented mechanical engineer with superior technical skills; moreover, he has an impeccable moral character. His proficiency with Excel and REVIT are at a very high level. He is eager to take on any challenge with an ever-positive attitude and delivers every time. Bottom line, I have no doubt that Derek will become a super star mechanical engineer in the future. I give him my highest recommendation.
Credentials
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Rescue Diver
PADIJun, 2021- Sep, 2024 -
Advanced Open Water Diver
PADIJun, 2020- Sep, 2024 -
Open Water Diver
PADIDec, 2017- Sep, 2024 -
Fundamentals of Engineering Exam: Pass
NCEESApr, 2017- Sep, 2024 -
Emergency Planning IS-00235.c
FEMAJan, 2017- Sep, 2024 -
Amateur Radio Operator, Technician Class
Federal Communications CommissionSep, 2016- Sep, 2024
Experience
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Indo Ocean Project
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Indonesia
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Environmental Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Divemaster Candidate and Research Diver
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Oct 2023 - Present
Situated on the equator in West Papua, Indonesia, Raja Ampat’s marine biodiversity is the richest on the planet. The biodiversity is so extreme that the province has more species in the area of a football field than are contained in the whole of the Great Barrier Reef. It is also a triumph of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and offers a unique opportunity to scientifically establish the effectiveness of governmental action in marine conservation. This 8 week program teaches me to be a more… Show more Situated on the equator in West Papua, Indonesia, Raja Ampat’s marine biodiversity is the richest on the planet. The biodiversity is so extreme that the province has more species in the area of a football field than are contained in the whole of the Great Barrier Reef. It is also a triumph of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and offers a unique opportunity to scientifically establish the effectiveness of governmental action in marine conservation. This 8 week program teaches me to be a more capable scuba diver, resulting in the certification of “divemaster”: the first level of professional diving. It also exposes me to marine conservation, challenging me to become an expert survey diver capable of identifying hundreds of unique species underwater, and learning to monitor and restore corals. The data collected during these dives is compared to similar data in other project sites (Penida, Bira) where an MPA exists, but is not enforced, and where no MPA exists. The result is a powerful and convincing dataset useful for regulation and highlighting the importance of protecting biodiversity. In addition, the area is extremely remote, and the hot and humid jungle challenges my engineering skills, resourcefulness, and resilience… teaching me to make do with few of the comforts I’m used to. Following my time here, I plan to pursue my scuba instructor’s license. Show less Situated on the equator in West Papua, Indonesia, Raja Ampat’s marine biodiversity is the richest on the planet. The biodiversity is so extreme that the province has more species in the area of a football field than are contained in the whole of the Great Barrier Reef. It is also a triumph of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and offers a unique opportunity to scientifically establish the effectiveness of governmental action in marine conservation. This 8 week program teaches me to be a more… Show more Situated on the equator in West Papua, Indonesia, Raja Ampat’s marine biodiversity is the richest on the planet. The biodiversity is so extreme that the province has more species in the area of a football field than are contained in the whole of the Great Barrier Reef. It is also a triumph of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and offers a unique opportunity to scientifically establish the effectiveness of governmental action in marine conservation. This 8 week program teaches me to be a more capable scuba diver, resulting in the certification of “divemaster”: the first level of professional diving. It also exposes me to marine conservation, challenging me to become an expert survey diver capable of identifying hundreds of unique species underwater, and learning to monitor and restore corals. The data collected during these dives is compared to similar data in other project sites (Penida, Bira) where an MPA exists, but is not enforced, and where no MPA exists. The result is a powerful and convincing dataset useful for regulation and highlighting the importance of protecting biodiversity. In addition, the area is extremely remote, and the hot and humid jungle challenges my engineering skills, resourcefulness, and resilience… teaching me to make do with few of the comforts I’m used to. Following my time here, I plan to pursue my scuba instructor’s license. Show less
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SpaceX
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United States
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Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Propulsion Engineer (Raptor Valves)
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Jan 2022 - Nov 2022
Responsible for building the “brains” of Raptor. I am the build/process engineer for the 2x highly integrated assemblies where the pneumatics control system (solenoids) and all engine sensors (transducers, etc) get mated - and tested - with the engine computers (PCBA). The focus now is on rate and reliability. Reliability means learning quickly from test failures and failures in the field, and developing the design and process to remove those risks. Meanwhile, I am constantly looking for… Show more Responsible for building the “brains” of Raptor. I am the build/process engineer for the 2x highly integrated assemblies where the pneumatics control system (solenoids) and all engine sensors (transducers, etc) get mated - and tested - with the engine computers (PCBA). The focus now is on rate and reliability. Reliability means learning quickly from test failures and failures in the field, and developing the design and process to remove those risks. Meanwhile, I am constantly looking for ways to make the design and process easier, faster, and cheaper to build.
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Sr. Manufacturing Engineer (Raptor)
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Nov 2020 - Jan 2022
The Raptor engine is eager to scale in order to support colonizing Mars. I am responsible for the simplification and cost reduction of the ignition system. This means challenging long-held beliefs and requirements, deleting parts and processes, and iterating on designs quickly to arrive at a reliable, easy to build system. On a daily basis, I use my extensive experience in aerospace component manufacturing to perform root cause analysis, institute more efficient and repeatable production… Show more The Raptor engine is eager to scale in order to support colonizing Mars. I am responsible for the simplification and cost reduction of the ignition system. This means challenging long-held beliefs and requirements, deleting parts and processes, and iterating on designs quickly to arrive at a reliable, easy to build system. On a daily basis, I use my extensive experience in aerospace component manufacturing to perform root cause analysis, institute more efficient and repeatable production processes, and drive continuous improvement projects. I specialize in over 20 unique manufacturing processes, including: precision cleaning, assembly, pressure testing (proof/leak/flow/functional), inspection (borescope, visual, damage, CMM, manual), weld (TIG/EB), braze, heat treat, machining, coatings (anodizing, chemfilm, lubrication), insulating, finishing and precision deburring, weld inspection (visual, penetrant, ultrasonic).
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Manufacturing Engineer II (Merlin)
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Jun 2018 - Nov 2020
I worked in a high-mix, medium-volume manufacturing environment that built hundreds of small subassemblies each week. I was the responsible build/process engineer for ~100 unique assemblies and ~300 piece parts with active demand. The core of my products were machined fluid components that we cleaned, assembled, pressure tested, and inspected before delivering to integration, but I was also responsible for a few welded fluid components and structures. My role was mostly product sustainment… Show more I worked in a high-mix, medium-volume manufacturing environment that built hundreds of small subassemblies each week. I was the responsible build/process engineer for ~100 unique assemblies and ~300 piece parts with active demand. The core of my products were machined fluid components that we cleaned, assembled, pressure tested, and inspected before delivering to integration, but I was also responsible for a few welded fluid components and structures. My role was mostly product sustainment, improvement, and nonconformance disposition, with a few cases of new product introduction. I regularly interfaced with multidisciplinary teams in production, purchasing, quality, design engineering, analysis, materials, maintenance, tooling, information systems, metrology, and external suppliers across the US... I revised and signed 100+ engineering drawings, 300+ build instructions, and 1500+ nonconformance tickets across 250+ unique parts. I wrote process specifications that drove process and quality requirements across hundreds of parts, both internally and at our suppliers. I established strong bases in design for manufacturability, GD&T, and data reduction using Excel/SQL to find the biggest opportunities for process improvement (reduce labor, improve quality, reduce cost, reduce lead time). I was very much a jack-of-all-trades engineer in this role, and if I had to sum up my job in a sentence, it'd be "keep production moving". The scope of my work varied widely on a week-to-week basis as I adapted to the changing needs of our customers and supply chain.
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Propulsion Test Engineer
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Jun 2017 - Jun 2018
Designed, built, operated, and troubleshooted test systems for manufacturing processes, including structural components, high pressure fluid systems, thermal control systems, instrumentation, and software. Developed piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) in Visio for new and legacy fluid/electrical systems used in production. Ensured safety of test technicians by performing PFMEA, DFMEA, implementing regular maintenance, auditing existing systems, and writing Job Hazard Assessments… Show more Designed, built, operated, and troubleshooted test systems for manufacturing processes, including structural components, high pressure fluid systems, thermal control systems, instrumentation, and software. Developed piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) in Visio for new and legacy fluid/electrical systems used in production. Ensured safety of test technicians by performing PFMEA, DFMEA, implementing regular maintenance, auditing existing systems, and writing Job Hazard Assessments (JHAs). Designed high-energy gas systems (10ksi) for multiple fault tolerance. Pushed back against long-held beliefs about testing requirements and criteria based on first principles. Performed analysis and reduction of pressure testing and dimensional data w/ SQL/Excel in order to identify trends and develop root cause of anomalous fluid behavior. Organized containments to segregate, inspect, and correct suspected nonconformances on parts upstream and downstream of build based on big data review. Generated automated test plans for test processes. Developed curriculum and taught "Fluid Systems 101" course to production staff, covering everything from kinetic molecular theory of gases through component selection and design.
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Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory
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United States
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Research Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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President, Fabrication Lead ('16-'17) // Outreach Lead ('15-'16)
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Aug 2015 - Jun 2017
Check us out at https://vadl.org/ I love working together with a team to come up with innovative and scrappy solutions to complicated problems, and the Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Lab proved to be the ideal environment for this kind of synergism. In 2015 and 2016 I served as outreach coordinator. Our outreach efforts involved traveling to elementary, middle, and high schools in Middle Tennesee and teaching them in 60-90 minutes about engineering, aerospace, rockets, and why… Show more Check us out at https://vadl.org/ I love working together with a team to come up with innovative and scrappy solutions to complicated problems, and the Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Lab proved to be the ideal environment for this kind of synergism. In 2015 and 2016 I served as outreach coordinator. Our outreach efforts involved traveling to elementary, middle, and high schools in Middle Tennesee and teaching them in 60-90 minutes about engineering, aerospace, rockets, and why space is important. I developed our curriculum for each individual level, and organized communication and transportation between Vanderbilt and these schools. In 2016 and 2017 I served as president of the organization, organizing and delegating to our 15 members utilizing a systems engineering approach. In just a few months, we designed, built, tested, and flew two ~10ft L-class carbon fiber rockets that implemented a cost effective cold-gas thruster system for post-MECO roll control. Besides acting as president and assisting in the design of our thruster system, I was the fabrication lead. I directed the production of our carbon fiber airframe and custom machined aluminum and steel parts to fly onboard. I loved the hands-on position I was in, as it allowed me to better oversee the integration of each subsystem to ensure everything operated as a cohesive whole. Show less Check us out at https://vadl.org/ I love working together with a team to come up with innovative and scrappy solutions to complicated problems, and the Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Lab proved to be the ideal environment for this kind of synergism. In 2015 and 2016 I served as outreach coordinator. Our outreach efforts involved traveling to elementary, middle, and high schools in Middle Tennesee and teaching them in 60-90 minutes about engineering, aerospace, rockets, and why… Show more Check us out at https://vadl.org/ I love working together with a team to come up with innovative and scrappy solutions to complicated problems, and the Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Lab proved to be the ideal environment for this kind of synergism. In 2015 and 2016 I served as outreach coordinator. Our outreach efforts involved traveling to elementary, middle, and high schools in Middle Tennesee and teaching them in 60-90 minutes about engineering, aerospace, rockets, and why space is important. I developed our curriculum for each individual level, and organized communication and transportation between Vanderbilt and these schools. In 2016 and 2017 I served as president of the organization, organizing and delegating to our 15 members utilizing a systems engineering approach. In just a few months, we designed, built, tested, and flew two ~10ft L-class carbon fiber rockets that implemented a cost effective cold-gas thruster system for post-MECO roll control. Besides acting as president and assisting in the design of our thruster system, I was the fabrication lead. I directed the production of our carbon fiber airframe and custom machined aluminum and steel parts to fly onboard. I loved the hands-on position I was in, as it allowed me to better oversee the integration of each subsystem to ensure everything operated as a cohesive whole. Show less
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Vanderbilt University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Fluid Mechanics Teaching Assistant
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Aug 2016 - Dec 2016
I worked 12 hours a week as a teaching assistant for fluid mechanics. My duties included grading homework and tests, helping students during office hours, and holding review sessions. I worked 12 hours a week as a teaching assistant for fluid mechanics. My duties included grading homework and tests, helping students during office hours, and holding review sessions.
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Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.
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United States
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Design Services
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400 - 500 Employee
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Mechanical Engineering Intern
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May 2015 - Mar 2016
Two Internship Periods: May-August 2015, January-March 2016 At SSR I had the opportunity to put my skills to work on a number of amazing projects, including the new Detroit Redwings and Golden State Warriors Arenas. My work included: • Revit HVAC design (placing/tagging units & ductwork) • Unit zoning & sizing, load estimation, space requirement determination, and scheduling using Excel & TRACE 700, according to LEED/ASHRAE standards • Markups/Zone Mapping with Bluebeam… Show more Two Internship Periods: May-August 2015, January-March 2016 At SSR I had the opportunity to put my skills to work on a number of amazing projects, including the new Detroit Redwings and Golden State Warriors Arenas. My work included: • Revit HVAC design (placing/tagging units & ductwork) • Unit zoning & sizing, load estimation, space requirement determination, and scheduling using Excel & TRACE 700, according to LEED/ASHRAE standards • Markups/Zone Mapping with Bluebeam Revu • Automation of several company selection processes using Excel (V-lookups, pivot tables, if statements, conditional formatting, and more) I also served as project manager for the company internship project, directing and working alongside eight other interns located in both Nashville and Memphis offices. I set up calls and meetings, distributed work, sent weekly updates and tasks, and collated/formatted documents. Show less Two Internship Periods: May-August 2015, January-March 2016 At SSR I had the opportunity to put my skills to work on a number of amazing projects, including the new Detroit Redwings and Golden State Warriors Arenas. My work included: • Revit HVAC design (placing/tagging units & ductwork) • Unit zoning & sizing, load estimation, space requirement determination, and scheduling using Excel & TRACE 700, according to LEED/ASHRAE standards • Markups/Zone Mapping with Bluebeam… Show more Two Internship Periods: May-August 2015, January-March 2016 At SSR I had the opportunity to put my skills to work on a number of amazing projects, including the new Detroit Redwings and Golden State Warriors Arenas. My work included: • Revit HVAC design (placing/tagging units & ductwork) • Unit zoning & sizing, load estimation, space requirement determination, and scheduling using Excel & TRACE 700, according to LEED/ASHRAE standards • Markups/Zone Mapping with Bluebeam Revu • Automation of several company selection processes using Excel (V-lookups, pivot tables, if statements, conditional formatting, and more) I also served as project manager for the company internship project, directing and working alongside eight other interns located in both Nashville and Memphis offices. I set up calls and meetings, distributed work, sent weekly updates and tasks, and collated/formatted documents. Show less
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English Instructor
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Jun 2014 - Aug 2014
In the summer of 2014 I taught English for ten weeks in northern Italy, helping young students develop independence and self confidence in their linguistic proficiency. During each week-long camp, I served as both mentor and resident advisor for ~10 students ages 5-12. I taught daily workshops on subjects like science, music, astronomy, and storytelling - teaching with both communicative and immersion approaches. I had the pleasure of staying in the Italian Alps (see video), and… Show more In the summer of 2014 I taught English for ten weeks in northern Italy, helping young students develop independence and self confidence in their linguistic proficiency. During each week-long camp, I served as both mentor and resident advisor for ~10 students ages 5-12. I taught daily workshops on subjects like science, music, astronomy, and storytelling - teaching with both communicative and immersion approaches. I had the pleasure of staying in the Italian Alps (see video), and this experience sparked in me a passion for international employment and travel. Show less In the summer of 2014 I taught English for ten weeks in northern Italy, helping young students develop independence and self confidence in their linguistic proficiency. During each week-long camp, I served as both mentor and resident advisor for ~10 students ages 5-12. I taught daily workshops on subjects like science, music, astronomy, and storytelling - teaching with both communicative and immersion approaches. I had the pleasure of staying in the Italian Alps (see video), and… Show more In the summer of 2014 I taught English for ten weeks in northern Italy, helping young students develop independence and self confidence in their linguistic proficiency. During each week-long camp, I served as both mentor and resident advisor for ~10 students ages 5-12. I taught daily workshops on subjects like science, music, astronomy, and storytelling - teaching with both communicative and immersion approaches. I had the pleasure of staying in the Italian Alps (see video), and this experience sparked in me a passion for international employment and travel. Show less
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Education
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2013 - 2017
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.), Mechanical Engineering, Minor: Engineering Management -
2016 - 2016
Politecnico di Torino
Semester Abroad, Thermal & Hydraulic Machines, Fluid Power, Company Economics, Italian Language
Community
