Rizwan Sardar Résumé
415-312-2795 rysardar@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/rizwansardar portfolio: rizwansardar.com
Objective
Dual-degreed mechanical engineer and autodidact committed to accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. Drawing upon a diverse background in chemistry, battery & solar energy systems and mechanical engineering to produce elegant solutions in the realms of energy storage and generation.
Experience
Machining Assistant, Boston University Engineering Product Innovation Center - Boston, MA 2021
Fulfilled milling orders out of aluminum, acrylic, and HDPE stock to produce custom parts with complex features such as interference fits and keyways.
Turned an array of high tolerance parts including custom fittings, axles, and solid adapters.
Engineering Intern, Otherlab - San Francisco, CA 2019
Procured internship under Saul Griffith, an influential inventor in the realm of renewable energy.
Constructed solar-electric motorcycle prototype; Wired solar panels and charge controller to supply main battery, designed and cut aluminum footboards using water-jet cutter, wrote Arduino script to collect power generation data assessing power production of two vehicle-mounted 100-watt flexible panels.
Designed and installed residential solar-thermal heating prototype system; Installed 2,000 feet of pex tubing, sized pumps and valves, built custom manifold supports using SolidWorks and waterjet cutter. Designed and constructed insulated water tank with built-in resistance coil heating and an 80-20 support frame.
Wrote custom Arduino script collecting thermocouple data assessing heat loss over a 24-hour period.
Hardware & Electronics Intern, Mission Mule - San Francisco, CA 2019
Soldered motherboards from parts and assembled 60 data stations for a Department of Defense (DOD) deadline.
Identified redundant voltage regulators improving data station battery lifetime by hours.
Designed and sourced manufacturing for 200 custom aluminum mounting plates.
PV System Design Intern, Solar Union - San Francisco, CA 2018
Performed onsite shading and roof condition analysis for four San Francisco residences.
Drafted installation plans for three residences in Aurora, using available consumption and site analysis data.
Designed, priced, and assessed feasibility of integrated battery storage systems per customer requirements.
Skills
Li-ion Battery systems, CAD (SolidWorks, Onshape), Solar Design (Aurora), FEA, Arduino, Python, Matlab, Machining (Milling/Turning/Manual/CNC), 3D Printing (FDM & SLA), Soldering.
Education
Boston University, Masters of Mechanical Engineering, Expected Dec 2022 Boston
Occidental College, Bachelors of Science, Chemistry, Cum Laude, 2016 Los Angeles
Projects & Research
Custom Lithium-Ion Batteries
Spot welded reclaimed 18650 cells using zinc connection tabs and wired BMS to construct two 4oAh Li-ion battery modules.
Built microgrid with two 100 watt PV panels, an MPPT charge controller, and custom battery modules.
Successfully utilized stored microgrid energy to charge laptop, tablet and phone for 6 months.
Greenland Climate Change Research - John Parke Young Initiative Grant
Awarded funding to analyze the effects of Climate Change on Greenlandic energy production, industry, and culture. Traveled to four Greenlandic cities and produced a scenario analysis and research thesis.