Electronics & Code
I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be an engineer. From becoming resident IT for the family computer before my teens to taking apart just about everything I could to see how it worked, my curiosity about the design of everyday systems was a fundamental part of my childhood. Digital technology was becoming increasingly present in school until it was absolutely essential for teaching. Computers fascinated me as they still do today, and observing in real time as Moore’s Law unfolded, I watched as the Internet and the technology behind it grew exponentially.
It wasn’t long before I was exposed to programming; my first code experience was VB scripts with simple message boxes. Not long after, I discovered Visual Basic 6 and the stunning Web 2.0 framework. I was making old-school .NET 1.0 Windows forms applications, and I was playing around with HTML pages. When I discovered Visual Basic 2010, I was enamored with the endless possibilities for cool programs. I still have a copy of my first several dozen programs and I cherish them dearly. But the lack of portability for those early applications turned my interest back to the Web framework. I had an old computer gathering dust, and I figured, "Hey, I could make this a web server!" In 2011, I found myself with a lot of free time after the prescribed activies of my high school computer literacy classes, and I wanted to start building a personal website hosted on my spare computer. In fact, this very website is still based on that original project, though the hardware, operating system, frameworks, and technologies have vastly improved over time. As of October 10th, 2025; this website is now 14 years old! Celebrate the party and learn a little more about the history of my website over here!
Sustainability, Making, and Repair
When someone tells me something is broken, I love taking that as a challenge. Many of the electronics in my daily life have come to me for free or for next to nothing, often in "untested" or "parts only/not working" condition. For many people, diagnosis and repair is not worth the time investment; that's understandable. But for me, I love to dig into the details: datasheets, service manuals, or just blind troubleshooting. I get why people simply toss things that aren't worth fixing at first glance - minimizing downtime, avoiding complex investigation, or maybe capitalizing on the opportunity to upgrade an old or underperforming system. But more often than not, I find that simple troubleshooting and repairs can create value from the bottom of the value chain. Plus, repair and maintenance often has a smaller carbon footprint than outright replacement, and the skills I've gained from giving technology a new life are priceless additions to my engineering toolkit.
Research & Science Communication
My professional career started in...
Hobbies, Activites, and Interests
I enjoy combining technical and artistic expression — from generative art to photography.
