Erik Kizior

Software Engineer & Developer

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.

800+
Students Taught
3.93
UC Berkeley GPA
Erik Kizior
🎓
💻
My dog

When I'm not coding, you'll find me with my dogs! 🐕

Experience

Software Development Engineer Intern

Amazon

Jun 2025 - Present
Boston, MA

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.

AI/MLSecurityPythonMicroservices

Head Undergraduate Student Instructor & Instructor

UC Berkeley, CS61B

Aug 2024 - Jun 2025
Berkeley, CA

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.

TeachingLeadershipJavaProject Management

Tutor Enrichment Director

The Music Connection

Aug 2023 - Present
Berkeley, CA

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.

Software DevelopmentLeadershipCommunity Service

Research Assistant

UC Berkeley, Chunlei Lab

Jul 2024 - Present
Berkeley, CA

Working on MRI reconstruction research, applying deep learning to improve medical imaging. Collaborating with faculty and students to explore new ideas and approaches.

ResearchAI/MLMATLABMedical Imaging

Education & Awards

Education

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Stanford University

Sep 2025 - Jun 2027
Stanford, CA
Starting August 2025

Bachelor of Science in EECS

University of California, Berkeley

Aug 2021 - May 2025
Berkeley, CA
GPA: 3.93/4.00
Graduated Cum Laude

High School Diploma

Clovis North High School

Aug 2018 - May 2021
Clovis, CA
GPA: 4.87
Valedictorian

Honors & Awards

Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award

UC Berkeley GSI Teaching & Resource Center

Apr 2025

Awarded to top ~10% of graduate instructors campuswide for excellence in teaching and inclusive pedagogy.

National Merit Scholar Finalist

National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Apr 2020

Top 1% PSAT/NMSQT score in California with comprehensive academic and leadership evaluation.

Eagle Scout

Boy Scouts of America

Jan 2019

Highest rank in Boy Scouts, demonstrating leadership, service, and character development.

Boys State Delegate

American Legion

Jun 2020

Selected as a delegate to California Boys State, a competitive leadership and citizenship program for high school juniors.

1580
SAT Score
96.7%
Positive Student Feedback
Top 10%
UC Berkeley GSIs
40+
Team Members Led

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

Gravitas

2024

An original game developed with Unity. See if you can solve all of the levels!

UnityC#Game Development
Rocky's Mystery Dungeon

Rocky's Mystery Dungeon

2024

A recreation of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. Navigate randomly generated 2D worlds while fighting enemies.

JavaArtificial IntelligenceGame Development
Semiconductor Device Microfabrication

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.

MOSFETsMEMSMicrofabricationSemiconductor Physics

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.

Head TA for CS61B
Outstanding GSI Award
Curriculum Development
1 of 6

Key Achievements

96.7% positive student feedback
Led 40+ member teaching team
Outstanding GSI Award (Top 10%)
3.93 GPA at UC Berkeley

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!