About Me
I'm Erik, and I care deeply about building things that help people learn, grow, and connect. My path has taken me from the Central Valley to Berkeley and now Stanford, and I've been fortunate to work with and learn from so many inspiring people along the way.
At UC Berkeley, I studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and found a real sense of purpose in teaching and mentoring. Whether leading a teaching team, developing new tools for students, or supporting others in the classroom, I strive to create spaces where everyone can thrive.
I'm currently interning at Amazon, where I get to collaborate with talented engineers and contribute to projects that challenge me to grow. Outside of work, I love making music, eating burritos, gaming, and volunteering with organizations that bring people together through education and the arts.
When I'm not coding, you'll find me with my dogs! 🐕
Experience
Software Development Engineer Intern
Amazon
Building and deploying software solutions as part of the CPSS ProdSec team, with a focus on security and reliability. Collaborating with a diverse team of engineers and learning from their expertise every day.
Head Undergraduate Student Instructor & Instructor
UC Berkeley, CS61B
Led a teaching team for CS61B (Data Structures), supporting over 800 students and mentoring junior staff. Developed curriculum, internal tools, and resources to help students succeed.
Tutor Enrichment Director
The Music Connection
Helped facilitate over 1,250 hours of free music education for K-12 students in partnership with local school districts. Designed and led workshops for tutors, focusing on pedagogy and music theory.
Research Assistant
UC Berkeley, Chunlei Lab
Working on MRI reconstruction research, applying deep learning to improve medical imaging. Collaborating with faculty and students to explore new ideas and approaches.
Education & Awards
Education
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Stanford University
Bachelor of Science in EECS
University of California, Berkeley
High School Diploma
Clovis North High School
Honors & Awards
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
UC Berkeley GSI Teaching & Resource Center
Awarded to top ~10% of graduate instructors campuswide for excellence in teaching and inclusive pedagogy.
National Merit Scholar Finalist
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Top 1% PSAT/NMSQT score in California with comprehensive academic and leadership evaluation.
Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts of America
Highest rank in Boy Scouts, demonstrating leadership, service, and character development.
Projects
Here are some of the projects I've worked on. Each one represents a unique challenge and learning opportunity.
Featured Projects
These are the ones I had the most fun working on!
Gravitas
2024
An original game developed with Unity. See if you can solve all of the levels!
Rocky's Mystery Dungeon
2024
A recreation of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. Navigate randomly generated 2D worlds while fighting enemies.
Semiconductor Device Microfabrication
2024
Carried out a four-mask process in Berkeley's Microfabrication laboratory to fabricate functional semiconductor devices, simple IC circuits, and surface microstructures on a Silicon wafer.
All Projects
A comprehensive collection of my technical work
Secure File Sharing System
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
Designed a secure encryption scheme that allows users to securely store and share files on the system in the presence of attackers who can maliciously modify and read the contents of stored data.
Gitlet
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Developed a Git-like local version control system. Supports essential Git features such as branching and merging.
2048
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Recreated the sliding-tile game 2048!
Pacman
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Implemented Pacman using various Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning techniques such as minimax, expectimax, value iteration, Q-learning, and a neural network to simulate player decision-making.
Scheme Interpreter
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Developed an interpreter for a subset of the Scheme language.
Wordnet
Jan 2024 - May 2024
A browser-based tool for exploring the history of word usage in English texts. Inspired by the Google NGram Viewer.
CPU
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Simulated a functional CPU that supports the RISC-V instruction set.
Voice-Controlled Car
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Converts analog input to digital, then uses PCA and k-means clustering to classify speech patterns and control the car.
FPGA RISC-V Processor
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Designed a three-stage RISC-V processor system using FPGA design tools.
Resistive Touch Sensor
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Used a MOSFET and an LED Diode in a resistive network to create a sensor that emits light upon touch.
Ants
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Recreated Plants vs. Zombies.
Ataxx
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Recreated the board game Ataxx. Used artificial intelligence techniques such as minimax to simulate player decisions.
Cats
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Developed a simple program that measures typing speed and corrects the spelling of a user as they type.
Deque
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Implemented the Deque abstract data type in two ways, once using a Linked List and once using resizing Array.
Enigma
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Developed a program to simulate the Enigma machine cipher device from WWII.
Snek
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Recreated the popular computer game Snake.
Mail Merger Software
Aug 2023 - Present
Developed custom software to automate the tutor-family placement process and tutor email pipeline, saving 20+ board hours per semester.
Skills & Expertise
I believe in learning through doing and teaching. My expertise comes from real projects, meaningful collaborations, and the privilege of helping others grow.
Teaching & Leadership
3+ years
Led 40+ member teaching team for 800+ students. 96.7% positive feedback.
Key Achievements
Learning Philosophy
I believe that teaching is one of the best ways to learn. I've grown the most when helping others succeed, and I strive to create environments where curiosity and kindness are valued. Every project and every classroom has taught me something new, and I'm grateful for the chance to keep learning with others.
Get In Touch
I love meeting new people and learning about their journeys. If you'd like to connect, collaborate, or just chat about technology, teaching, or life, I'd be happy to hear from you. Let's build something meaningful together.
Connect With Me
I'm always open to discussing new opportunities, collaborations, or interesting projects. Feel free to reach out through any of these channels!