San Diego State University is a major public research university with a strong focus on applied engineering, materials science, and experimental research. The College of Engineering supports hands on laboratory work, faculty led research, and collaboration across disciplines. Research labs at SDSU emphasize experimental validation, real data, and direct student involvement.

I worked in the lab led by Joaquin Camacho, which focuses on combustion, flame synthesis, and material characterization. The lab environment emphasized precision, safety, and repeatable experimental results.

You can find his research here

I helped build and prepare the experimental setup used for combustion based material synthesis and soot analysis. This included assembling components, setting up instrumentation, and preparing the system for controlled testing. I worked closely with lab members to ensure the setup met experimental requirements and safety standards. 

I participated directly in running experiments. This included operating combustion equipment, monitoring conditions, and supporting flame synthesis trials. I followed established procedures while adjusting parameters under supervision to support different test cases. 

I assisted with collecting experimental data and organizing results from multiple runs. I worked with mass spectrometry outputs to help interpret material composition and experimental trends. This involved reviewing data quality, identifying inconsistencies, and discussing results with lab members to support ongoing research goals. 

I designed, coded, and launched the lab’s academic website from the ground up. I built the site structure, implemented page layouts, and organized content for publications, research areas, and personnel. The site was developed to clearly communicate the lab’s research focus and improve visibility for prospective students and collaborators. 

You can find the website I coded here

My perosnal page here

• Handled compressed gas cylinders and regulators

• Configured gas delivery lines for controlled flow

• Worked with pressure gauges and flow controls

• Calculated gas mixture ratios and material quantities

• Set experimental parameters based on target conditions

• Assembled and aligned experimental hardware

• Operated combustion and flame synthesis systems

• Collected and logged experimental measurements

• Interpreted mass spectrometry output data

• Checked data consistency across test runs

• Followed lab safety protocols and documentation standards 

My work supported both the physical execution of experiments and the analysis of results. I contributed to building the experimental system, running tests, and working with real research data. This experience strengthened hands on lab skills, data awareness, and comfort working in a faculty led research environment.