Ryan Wong – Project Manager
Ryan Wong is a second year Mechanical engineering Student and the project manager of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning Team. Being part of this projectprovides him an opportunity to become familiar with drone piloting, multispectral camera reading,as well as conducting research on microorganisms within the soil.Academically, Wong is interested in robotics, drones, sustainability, and has been workingin his robotics club to build a robot at MESA labs. Wong plans on using his skillset to help out the local community as well as the sustainability of Earth as a whole.
Jaime Rivera - Assistent Project Manager
Jaime Rivera is a second year Computer Science and Engineering student,and Assistant Project Manager of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service-Learning Team. Being part of this project provides him an opportunity to help farmers and walnut tree producers with the detection of nematodes in walnut trees. Academically, Rivera is interested in software and computer development, artificial intelligence, and has is striving to get a bachelor’s degree at UC Merced. Rivera hopes to become a leading expert in the field of Computer Science and AI. Rivera also plans on using theses skill to improve the world by creating innovating software, and algorithms in AI.
Kimberly Lopez Romero -Communications Officer
Kimberly Lopez is a second year Mechanical Engineering student and the communication officer of the Unmanned Aerial System Engineering Service Learning team. Lopez has a special interest in the design of buildings and their optimization. As part of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Ingenieros Unidos on campus organization Lopez involvement is based on female empowerment. After graduation, Lopez plans to pursue a master’s degree in civil engineering. Through this project Lopez plans on involving her design interest to ensure the final product is efficient for the final users.
Daniel Ochoa - Team Member
Daniel Ochoa a Mechanical Engineer in his sophomore year in UC Merced and a team leader in UAS (Unmanned Aerial System Team). As team leader Ochoa is working on UAS project to detect nematodes in walnut trees base on the heat of the leaves using a multi spectrum camera. Ochoa Is hoping to do research and development in the future. Ochoa does not know where he want to work, but he does know what type of research he wants to do; new types of robotic technologies With the UAS team he is hoping to get more knowledge on how he can accomplish his dream.
Justin Reyes - Team Member
Justin Reyes is asecond year Mechanical Engineering student and is a team member of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Engineering Service Learning Team, where he is working on a drone to allow for early detection of nematodes found in roots of walnut trees. Being part of this project is crucial for his professional career by allowing him to gain professional experience and insight to his future career workplace. Academically, Reyes is interested in robotics which is why this team really stood out to him along with hopes to become a future mechanical engineer in a field related to vehicles or robotics that will better the world and its people.
Rogelio Aguilar – Team Member
Rogelio Aguilar is third year Computer Science and Engineering student pursuing a career in software engineering. As a team member on theUAS(Unmanned Aerial Systems)Lab Engineering Service-Learning team, Aguilar is learning how to workin an engineering project, being his first type of experience. Aguilar’s plan is to use what he learned in working in the UAS project and apply it to future internships he will apply to. Aguilar plans to gain more experience in the internships he applies to and use it to expand his career in software engineering.
Luis Cerezo – Intellectual Property Officer
Luis Cerezo is a third yearpursing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.Currently, he is the Intellectual Property Officer on theUAS(Unmanned Aerial Systems) Engineering Service Learning team.Cerezo developed an interest in UAS after building drones and rockets with AIAA at UC Merced. The UAS project allows him to learn the applications of UAS in the agricultural community where he hopes to gain valuable technical skills. Additionally, Cerezo has interned at Castle Air Museum where he restored military aircraft. Cerezo plans to use his experience with aircrafts and aeronautics to expand his career in the aerospace industry.
James Nguyen – Team Member
James Nguyen is a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering. Starting as an Arduino-based DIY hobbyist, Nguyen was interested in automating his own garden. This enabled Nguyen to learn basic hardware knowledge, but quickly took curiosity into practical applications of drones and automation. This passion for drones then pushed Nguyen to join the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning as an opportunity for Nguyen to have hands-on experience working with drones. By being on the UAS team, Nguyen plans to gain knowledge and training in operating in a professional workspace.
Rehan Saeed – Team Leader
Rehan Saeed is a third-year Environmental Engineering studentand the hardware Team Leader for the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service Learning team.Saeed is interested in pursuing a career that is focused on ensuring a sustainable water environment for people and natural ecosystems.Being part of this project provides him an opportunity to use his skills to make a positive impact in the community and to gain practical experience using drone technology that can be applied toward monitoring and managing water.Saeed has completed volunteer work on multiple projects that focus on environmental sustainability.
Alex Taylor - Team Member
Alex Taylor is a third year Computer Science and Engineering major. He is an active member in BSU and he has access to networking systems within different communities within the university. This is his second time taking the Engineering Service Learning class, taking it once before in his second semester of his Sophomore year. Previously a Team leader on the Captivated Thinking team for Service Learning, he shares prior team leading experience as well as the ability to work in a cooperative team setting.
Elwood Mac Murray - Team Member
Elwood Mac Murray is a third year Mechanical Engineering student and team member of the Unmanned Aerial System team. Mac Murray has worked with Turner Construction and Transbay Joint Power Authority on the construction of the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco which also relates to his professional goal of working in the construction industry. He chose the Unmanned Aerial System engineering service learning team to help him gain insight on what it’s like working as a team for a client which he believes is valuable experience which also in the end will help the community.
Patricia Mendoza - Team Member
Patricia Kaye Mendoza is a fourth year Mechanical Engineering student. Mendoza is a member of the Unmanned Aerial Systems Engineering Service-LearningProject, where she will assist in the Imaging Analysis of Nematodes on Walnut Trees. Mendoza currently works at the UC Merced Writing Center and at Merced County. She will be graduating in the Spring of 2019 and has received an offer to work for Hilti, a company that provides services and products that make construction simpler. Mendoza hopes to use techniques gained here and apply it towards Imaging Analysis in buildings and land surveying.
