# Daffny Cardoso > Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering @ Columbia University Location: New York, New York, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/daffny I am a sophomore at Columbia University studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. I currently serve as a Responsible Engineer on the Columbia Space Initiative Rockets Aerostructures team, where I lead projects related to aerostructural components, including rail button design and composite fin fabrication. In addition, I have also developed an interest in AI and machine learning through my research at the Myers Soft Tissue Laboratory, where I built an AI model that crops experimental images, and that increased post-experimental efficiency by 91%. I also work as a laboratory assistant at the Robert A. W. Carleton Strength of Materials Laboratory, gaining hands-on experience with material characterization and strength testing. I am motivated by opportunities that allow me to expand my technical skill set and apply engineering design, analysis, and fabrication to real-world problems. Feel free to reach out to me: djc2243@columbia.edu ## Work Experience ### Laboratory Assistant @ Robert A. W. Carleton Strength of Materials Laboratory Jan 2025 – Present | New York, United States - Performing large-scale tensile and strength testing on metals, generating reliable data to evaluate mechanical properties for structures such as bridges. - Gaining proficiency in the use of advanced testing and fabrication equipment, including Instron machines, band saws, grinders, and other shop tools. ### Responsible Engineer (RE) for Rockets Aerostructures @ Columbia Space Initiative Jan 2025 – Present - Designed and optimized airfoil-based rail button geometries, created CAM programs for in-house manufacturing, and conducted finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate stress distribution and aerodynamic loading, reducing stress concentrations by 10% and improving efficiency. - Currently developing the 2026 standard operating procedure (SOP) for fin fabrication with composites, including carbon fiber, to streamline manufacturing processes and ensure consistency, and leading development of bonding procedures for integrating fins to the rocket body tube. ### Rockets Aerostructures Mission Member @ Columbia Space Initiative Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 - Modeled the initial 2025 hybrid and solid rockets’ bulkhead designs using SolidWorks and Onshape computer aided design software. - Gained experience working with features of OpenRocket to simulate and design rockets for optimal performance. - Performed carbon fiber and epoxy lay-ups to G10 fiberglass sheets to fabricate rocket fins. - Utilized water jet machining to cut rocket fins of precise geometry. ### AQUAS Mission Member @ Columbia Space Initiative Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 - Collaborate with a team of 10 students to design and assemble an autonomous robotic boat to address harmful algal blooms. - Utilized SolidWorks to CAD an optimal tether attachment for our boat and used Bambu printers to 3D print the part for integration into our vehicle. - Assembled and tested the boat’s sensor buoy for functionality in water. ### Myers Soft Tissue Laboratory Undergraduate Researcher @ Columbia Engineering Jan 2025 – Present | New York, New York, United States - Automating finite element analysis workflows in FEBio by developing scripts to streamline meshing, and boundary condition application, improving simulation efficiency and consistency across models. - Translating measurements and proximal cervix mapping data into parametric SolidWorks CAD models. - Designed and trained an AI model in Python to crop, segment, and isolate cervical regions of mice from raw experimental images, improving image processing and analysis efficiency by 91% and enabling researchers to progress more quickly through subsequent experimental steps. - Developed proficiency in MATLab while performing initial manual cropping of images to generate training data for the AI model. ### Co-Founder/Co-President @ Code Tiers Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 - Co-founded a virtual summer computer science education program, that teaches students Python, Java and other coding languages, through weekly workshops and that has reached over 400 students worldwide. - Guide and direct a team of 30+ mentors from across the world and with diverse computer science backgrounds, and oversee their lesson plans to ensure effective and informative workshops. - Working to bridge the gap between passionate students and computer science. ### Head of Machining for FRC 2601 (Steel Hawks) Robotics Team @ FIRST Jan 2020 – Jan 2024 | Queens, New York, United States - Created detailed lesson plans to train a sub-team on the ShopBot Desktop MAX CNC machine’s operation and safety, ensuring efficient and optimal part fabrication. - Led the team in fabricating custom parts for the 2023 and 2024 competition robots, including components for mechanisms made out of polycarbonate, aluminum and wood. - Coordinated with members of the mechanical engineering and electrical engineering sub-team for the integration of high-quality fabricated parts into the robot design. ### Founder @ Project India Jan 2023 – Jan 2023 | Goa, India - Directed a comprehensive 2-week mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and programming program at a government school in the rural region of Goa, India, introducing students from low-income backgrounds to a hands-on stem education. - Facilitated the construction of a West Coast drivetrain robot with a 6 wheel drive. - Provided hands-on training on mechanical skills including using tools, such as wrenches, rivet guns, and drills, and guided students in assembling crucial mechanical components such as tensioners, chains, shafts, and gearboxes. - Taught students how to create the electrical make-up of the robot including how to assemble daisy chains, ethernet cables and power distribution panels. - Instructed students on coding the robot in Java covering topics such as programming joysticks and sparks motor controllers. - Guided students in presenting the project to the school board and prompted the local government to consider integrating hands-on STEM education into their school curriculum. ### Research Intern for the Machines in Motion Laboratory @ NYU Tandon School of Engineering Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 | Brooklyn, New York, United States - Analyzed motion trajectories and implemented functions in Python for the development of upper-limb exoskeleton robots, aimed at assisting warehouse workers with arm disabilities. - Presented research findings to representatives of the Pinkerton Foundation and at a colloquium. ## Education ### Bachelor of Science - BS in Mechanical Engineering Columbia University ### Townsend Harris High School ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daffny-cardoso-910ab932b --- Source: https://flows.cv/daffny JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/daffny/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13