Education
Pittsburgh, PA | 08/2025 – Present
Organizations

University of Pittsburgh Formula SAE

Chassis lead
07/2026 – Present
  • •Leading the engineering design, FEA, physical validation, and TIG-welding fabrication for the PR-039 space frame chassis.
  • •Performing multifaceted simulations that represent real-world race scenarios to ensure structural integrity and performance goals are met.
  • •Managing structural integration across sub-teams while maintaining compliance with FSAE safety regulations.

    • University of Pittsburgh Formula SAE

    Structures Member
    08/2025 – 06/2026
  • •Designed and manufactured a high-precision welding fixture to constrain and minimize heat warp during fabrication for a steel tube chassis.
  • •Programmed Fusion 360 CAM toolpaths to machine complex billet aluminum components for the Dyno motor test bed on a Haas VF-2SSYT.
  • •CNC-machined a custom 4140 chromoly steel steering column and engineered an ergonomic driver seat-mounting system for rapid access.
    • Awards and Publications

    Eagle Scout

    Boy Scouts of America - Troop 344, Wexford PA
    06/2025

    Co-Author

    Device, Cell Press, 2025

    “Development of an Open-source Low-cost Pressure Myography and Cardiac Flow Simulator, HemoLens, for Mechanical Characterization of Native and Engineered Blood Vessels” (Doi: 10.1101/2025.04.29.651300)

    Professional Experience

    Undergraduate Research Fellow

    Shiwarski Tissue Engineering Lab⁠
    Pittsburgh, PA | 06/2024 – Present
  • •Engineered a cost-effective conversion of a Linear Motor FDM printer for FRESH bioprinting.
  • •Awarded a fellowship to advance my work in the conversion and analysis of low-cost 3D bioprinting.
  • •Co-authored peer-reviewed research in Device on an open-source vascular pressure myography platform.
    • Pittsburgh, PA | 01/2026 – Present

    Designed and manufactured physical prototypes for researchers and students, using 3/4 axis CNC machining, manual tools, and additive manufacturing.

    Junior Soccer Coach

    Curran Soccer Academy⁠
    Wexford, PA | 06/2023 – 08/2025

    Lead and assist in training sessions, focusing on skill development for young athletes.

    Projects

    SURI Fellowship

    Summer Undergraduate Research Internship
    05/2026 – 08/2026

    Selected for the SURI fellowship at the Swanson School of Engineering, continue my work from my VESSELS Fellowship in the Shiwarski Tissue Engineering lab.

    PA BotsIQ competition

    15lbs Battle Bot
    08/2024 – 07/2025

    Engineered a competitive robot and led a team of 6 to a 7th place finish among 67 teams in the 15 lbs weight class in the PA BotsIQ competition.

    Pennsylvania TSA Robotics Competition

    1st Place in Systems and Control (2024) | 1st Place in Open Robotics (2023)

    Skills
    Software

    ANSYS R1, SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk AutoCAD, Fusion 360 + CAM, KiCad, Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, MATLAB, C/C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, Arduino IDE

    Fabrication

    4 Axis CNC Mill, 3-axis CNC router, CNC Lathe - Laser Cutter, Manual Mill / Lathe - TIG welding, FDM and SLA 3D printing - Hand tools

    Technical skills

    Part/System Design - Technical Drawings - Team Management - Logic-Based Troubleshooting

    Owen Kaufman