# Eric Lau

> Senior Software Engineer at Nextdoor

Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/ericlau1

I am a full-stack developer with a strong desire to build and be a part of something so incredibly rewarding. Compared to research, I became encaptivated by software engineering’s fast-paced environment and tight community. It became another outlook for me to express myself creatively.

I’m inspired to learn new technologies and develop efficient, robust software. Constant challenges allow me to improve my skills and successfully solve complex problems, ultimately understanding the course to adapting to an ever-evolving landscape of change. I believe that software engineering is empowering, and can instantaneously impact the world in a positive way.

Outside of work, I’m an avid photographer and sweet baker. I enjoy going on hikes, exploring nature, hitting the gym, travelling, or any other activity to get my blood flowing. I’m a big people person, so I like to get involved and meet new people through community service and Yelp elite events. Connect with me over LinkedIn and feel free to say hello!

Specialties: 
Front-end: Javascript, React/Redux, GraphQL, HTML/CSS, Bootstrap, Material UI
Back-end: Python Django, Java Spring Boot, PostgresQL, SQL, Kafka, MongoDB, Redis 
Development: Git, AWS, Docker, Heroku, TDD

## Work Experience
### Technical Lead - Ads @ Nextdoor
Jan 2019 – Present

### Senior Software Engineer - Ads @ Nextdoor
Jan 2020 – Present

### Software Engineer - Ads @ Nextdoor
Jan 2019 – Jan 2019

### Software Engineer - Client Infrastructure @ Nextdoor
Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | San Francisco Bay Area

### Founder @ Eric Lau Photography
Jan 2015 – Present | San Francisco Bay Area
Freelance lifestyle photographer specializing in food photography, portraiture, architecture & landscapes

• Brand partnership and collaboration with models and partners like Yelp, UC Berkeley 
• Lead photography projects including image production, retouching, and art direction
• Post-process and catalog archive of past and present photoshoots in Lightroom/Photoshop

### Associate Instructor @ Hack Reactor
Jan 2017 – Jan 2018 | San Francisco Bay Area
• Partner with Head of Curriculum in redesigning curriculum and contribute to the course code base to improve and solidify students’ comprehension of material while enhancing their learning experience
• Mentored 150+ engineers on building full-stack web applications utilizing Node.js and front-end frameworks such as React and AngularJS and other technologies
• Handled 50 - 100 helpdesk tickets per week, answering a range of subjects including CS fundamentals, client-side frameworks, server applications, and SQL/NoSQL databases
• Trained engineers to effectively troubleshoot bugs in their code and conducted technical interviews for program admissions

### Research Assistant @ USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Jan 2014 – Jan 2017 | Albany, California
• Evaluated WD40 protein data collected from TAIR (Arabidopsis Information Resource Database) to assess correlations between splice variants using Matlab
• Implemented a new technique for screening pollen in bulk with decolorized aniline blue to visualize callose, a marker for pollen germination
• Conducted molecular biology procedures including DNA extraction, PCR, SDS-PAGE, restriction enzyme analysis, and protein purification
• Ensured weekly and monthly inventory control, and ordered necessary supplies

### Web Developer calrotaract.org @ UC Berkeley Rotary International || Cal Rotaract
Jan 2013 – Jan 2015 | Berkeley, CA
• Designed and edited the website calrotaract.org for Cal Rotaract, one of UC Berkeley's largest service organizations using vanilla Javascript, HTML, CSS
• Created over 15 pages of unique, relevant content with optimized meta information using Wordpress CMS


## Education
### Bachelor of Science - BS in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology & Public Health
University of California, Berkeley


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/theericlau

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Source: https://flows.cv/ericlau1
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/ericlau1/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-03-22