Curriculum Vitae
Education
Northeastern University, Boston, MA
M.S. in Robotics (ME Concentration) | Jan 2024 – Dec 2025
- Coursework: Mechatronic Systems, Control Systems Engineering, Robotics Sensing & Navigation, Assistive Robotics, Foundations of AI, Reinforcement Learning
Northeastern University, Boston, MA
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Minor in Mathematics | May 2019 – Dec 2023
- GPA: 3.3/4.0
- Honors: COS Dean’s List (Fall 2020), Double Husky Scholarship
- Coursework: Solid Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Material Science, Calculus III
Beijing No.35 High School, Beijing, China
Dual Degree Program | Sep 2016 – Apr 2019
- GPA: 3.7/4.0
- Exchange: Prince of Peace, CA (Summer 2017); Harvard Business School Camp, MA (Winter 2017)
Publication
Indenting a thick gel with a solid spherical inclusion
Duo Wen, Zihan Lin, Yustianto Tjiptowidjojo, Kai-tak Wan
European Journal of Mechanics - A/Solids, Volume 106, 105343, July 2024
[Paper]
Research Experience
Part-time Laboratory Assistant, Northeastern University | Aug 2022 – Present
Advisor: Duo Wen (PhD Candidate), Prof. Kai-tak Wan
- Investigated soft material mechanics through indentation experiments on gel with embedded spherical inclusions
- Designed testing apparatus including acrylic enclosures; sourced and prepared experimental materials
- Conducted mechanical experiments and contributed to test plans, data analysis, and documentation
- Assisted with mechatronic system design and data collection for multiple faculty projects
- Co-authored publication in European Journal of Mechanics - A/Solids
Industry Experience
Production/Design Engineer Co-op, SharkNinja, Needham, MA | Jul – Dec 2021
- Developed and documented testing process for mesh pre-filter validation
- Designed debris dispenser prototypes using CFD simulation and 3D printing
- Built data logging system integrating Arduino and Prometheus for PMS9305 sensors
- Conducted airflow testing and UV fixture setup for odor neutralizer module
Mechanical Engineering Co-op, HiRain Technologies, Beijing, China | Jan – Jun 2023
- Managed PCB production orders and testing progress using SAP, Excel, and Access
- Performed quality assurance on PCB assemblies including inspection, firmware flashing, and validation
- Created 2D/3D CAD models for PCBA enclosures in SolidWorks and CREO
- Provided CAD drawings and documentation support during design iterations
Selected Projects
Drone Coverage Optimization with Reinforcement Learning | Spring 2025
- Designed Q-learning-based drone placement policy achieving 100% area coverage with 4 drones
- Outperformed PPO and MCTS baselines; verified convergence over 20,000+ training episodes
- Implemented A* pathfinding algorithm for emergency responder navigation in disaster zones
- Developed global environment mapping module for real-time 2D map construction
Wearable Assistive Navigation System | Fall 2024
- Built real-time obstacle detection system using ToF depth camera and Raspberry Pi
- Implemented haptic feedback with PWM-modulated vibration motors for three ROIs (left, center, right)
- Optimized sensor performance and user comfort through depth noise filtering
Mechatronic Control System | Summer 2024
- Developed Simulink/Simscape models for position and speed control with encoder feedback
- Estimated transfer functions across PWM duty cycles with <5% validation error
- Applied PID tuning and FFT analysis for improved response stability
Robotic Finger for Tumor Detection | Spring 2024
- Designed flexible robotic finger with dual IMU sensors for subdermal inclusion detection
- Applied Kalman, Butterworth, and moving average filters for trajectory mapping
- Demonstrated non-invasive lump localization for potential home-use diagnostics
Skills
Programming: Python, C++, MATLAB
CAD/Simulation: SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CREO, Simulink, Simscape, CFD
Hardware/Embedded: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ROS, Proteus 8 Professional
Fabrication: 3D Printing, PCB Design, Mechanical Prototyping
Tools: Git, SAP, Microsoft Office, LaTeX
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (Native), English (Fluent)
Contact
- Email: lin.zihan@northeastern.edu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zlukelin/overlay/1768760563287/single-media-viewer/?profileId=ACoAABcFVekBo8SexSyNUm2BykhYisavk9AtECw
- GitHub: github.com/neulinzihan
- Phone: 857-294-5016