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Unmanned Aerial Systems Biographies for Spring 2019

Rogelio Aguilar

Team Member

Rogelio Aguilar is a third-year Computer Science and Engineering student pursuing a career in software engineering. As a team member on the UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Lab Engineering Service-Learning team, Aguilar is working to create Stakeholder profiles, Zoom KARE, and update them on the current project. By performing these tasks, he hopes to gain experience in working at an engineering project.

Luis Cerezo

Intellectual Property Officer

Luis Cerezo is a third year pursing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Currently, he is the Intellectual Property Officer on the UAS (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.

Martin Garnica

Team Member 

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.

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-Learning Project, 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.

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.

Daniel Ochoa

Team Leader

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 a second 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.

Jaime Rivera 

Assistant 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.

Rehan Saeed

Team Leader

Rehan Saeed is a third-year Environmental Engineering student and 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.

Ralph Trejo

Procurement and Finance Officer

Ralph Trejo is a first-year Computer Science and Engineering Major. Trejo is a member of The Unmanned Aerial System Engineering Service Learning Team, where he is developing the software aspects of the project. Trejo liked the fact that he was able to develop valuable skills through Engineering Service Learning in the past and wanted to adapt on working with a new team and joined the UAS team to be able to develop more skills for the workforce. The UAS team provides him with hands-on experience in designing an operating system that will detect Nematodes within Walnut trees. Trejo hopes to utilize the skills that he has learned in Engineering Service Learning when working in his professional career in computer programming.

Juan Villasenor

Team Member

Juan Villasenor is a first year student pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He plans on working for Tesla in the future in order to improve A.I. systems. Villasenor is a member of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Engineering Service Learning project, where he is working on aerial drones with integrated cameras in order to be able to detect nematodes (almond tree disease) at an early stage. As Villasenor grew up, a passion towards technology grew with him, he is now able to work hands on with futuristic drones in order to save almond growers billions of dollars a year. One of Villasenor’s goals is to gain enough experience through this project to be able to intern at an agricultural factory which focuses on technology to improve crops.

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 project provides 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 working in 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.