Open to internship opportunities

Rishabh
Dholakia

Mechanical Engineering student at Cornell · Robotics, Aerospace & Assistive Tech

LinkedIn Projects Resume

About

Who I am

I'm a Mechanical Engineering student at Cornell with a deep interest in systems that push physical limits — whether that's a turbopump spinning at 25,000 RPM, a micro-robot coordinating chemical signals in a disaster zone, or a set of tactile blocks that help a student learn to code for the first time. I thrive at the intersection of design, simulation, and hands-on fabrication, and I'm drawn to problems where the answer doesn't already exist in a textbook. My work spans robotics, aerospace propulsion research, and assistive technology, and the common thread is the same: build things that matter, build them right.

Experience

What I've built

♿

Cornell Assistive Technologies · Ithaca, NY

Engineering Subteam Lead Mar 2026 – Present

  • Leading 5-person team to design and implement a mechanical lift to aid those with disabilities to get into their car

Mechanical Engineering Subteam Member Nov 2024 – Present

  • Engineered a tactile coding system by adapting Microsoft MakeCode syntax into a library of 3D-printed blocks with embedded Braille, enabling visually impaired students to learn programming
  • Received 2nd place at RESNA student design challenge, an assistive technologies competition at the Abilities International Professional Conference
  • CAD modeled a compact enclosure for a sensory overload watch in Fusion 360, optimizing for electronics protection, user comfort, and wearability
  • Modified ride-on toy cars using soldering and hand tools, improving accessibility for 5+ children
DFM / DFA Fusion 360 3D Printing Soldering
⚗️

Engineered Living Materials Institute · Ithaca, NY

Undergraduate Research Member Aug 2025 – Present

  • Design and manufacture micro-robot for novel chemical-based control system for multi-robot coordination for future search-and-rescue capabilities
  • Co-developed complete CAD assembly in Fusion 360 for V0 chassis and internal components, optimized for 3D printing and rapid assembly
  • Developed initial run & tumble algorithm to validate component integration and pathfinding logic, ensuring reliable robot navigation before hardware finalization
  • Simulated chemical diffusion and biological sensor response time lag using finite difference method (FDM) in Python
Fusion 360 Python FDM Simulation Multi-robot Systems
🚀

Liquid Propulsion at Cornell (LPC) · Ithaca, NY

Turbopump Subteam Lead Aug 2025 – Present

  • Organize and delegate tasks across a 3-person subteam to develop a liquid-propellant turbopump for engine system integration
  • Design turbine to withstand operating conditions of 25,000 RPM with blades sized for required power output
  • Validate component structural integrity and fluid power efficiency using FEA and CFD simulations
Ansys FEA CFD Fusion 360 Turbomachinery
🛰️

ASTRA Lab · Ithaca, NY

Undergraduate Research Assistant Jan 2025 – May 2025

  • Analyzed electrospray thruster data with MATLAB & custom Python code for improved efficiency
  • Built interactive Python GUI to streamline experimental data analysis and aid usability for researchers
  • Modeled and prototyped mounting plate and stand in Fusion 360 for water jetting
MATLAB Python GUI Dev Fusion 360

Featured Work

See what I've been building →

View Projects

Education

Academic background

Cornell University

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Aug 2024 — May 2028

4.137

GPA

Relevant Coursework

Intro to Mechanical Design Engineering Simulations & Design Dynamics Thermodynamics Statics & Mechanics of Solids

Contact

Get in touch

Whether you have a research opportunity, a project idea, or just want to talk engineering — I’d love to hear from you.

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