Gaspar Montoya | Portfolio

Professional Career

Internships, research, and milestones during my college career.

July 2025 - Jan 2026

Student Senator For Howard Hughes College of Engineering - UNLV Student Body

I represent the College of Engineering by advocating for student needs, by bringing access to funding and leadership opportunities, and leading initiatives that strengthen student engagement in research, professional development, and campus organizations. I also serve on the Internal Affairs Committee, where I work to ensure transparency and accountability within student government, and on the University Initiatives Committee, where I contribute to projects that enhance the overall student experience across campus.

Jan 2025 - Present

Undergraduate Research Assistant | Drone Systems & Robotics – Dr. Venki's Lab

As an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Venki’s robotics lab, I’ve had the chance to design, build, and test complete robotic systems from the ground up. I’ve worked on motion platforms using stepper motors, linear rails, and sensors, wiring everything so the system could move safely and accurately. I also built aerial systems by soldering power boards, integrating GPS units, cameras, and flight controllers, and organizing all of the signal and power wiring. To troubleshoot issues, I relied on tools like multimeters and oscilloscopes to track down bad connections, debug signals, and make sure everything was working the way it should. On the software side, I configured flight-control settings, calibrated sensors, tuned movement parameters, and ran tests until the systems were stable and reliable. Overall, I’ve gotten hands-on experience with the full workflow CAD design, soldering, wiring, programming, and testing which has taught me how to bring complex robotic platforms together in a practical, real-world lab environment.

View More About my Postion

August 2024 - May 2026

Engineering Peer Mentor – UNLV Howard Hughes College of Engineering

As a Peer Mentor for the UNLV Howard Hughes College of Engineering, I teach and lead the Engineering 101 lab for a class of 35 first-year engineering students. Each week, I run 2-hour sessions where I guide students through foundational engineering concepts, team projects, and their final class project. I hold regular office hours to support students not only with the class but also with related courses like math and physics. I grade assignments, provide feedback, and help students strengthen both their technical and academic skills. In addition to my core mentoring duties, I took the initiative to create and lead professional development seminars, where I teach hands-on workshops in Python programming, soldering, resume writing, and other career-building topics. This role has allowed me to support students academically, technically, and professionally throughout their first year in engineering.

Summer 2024

Computer Engineering Intern – NV Energy (Nevada's Power Company)

As a Computer Engineering Intern at NV Energy, I took the initiative to develop a custom Management of Change (MOC) application used across 18 power plants, including both solar and natural gas facilities. I built the app using Microsoft Power Apps, Power FX, SharePoint, and Outlook, creating a system that made it easier for engineers and plant staff to track changes, manage approvals, and stay aligned with safety and maintenance procedures. To make sure the tool met real operational needs, I regularly visited power plants, spoke directly with engineers and technicians, and applied what I learned about day-to-day workflows into the app’s design. I also took the initiative to step outside my core role and was mentored in welding inspection and power plant maintenance inspections, which gave me a deeper understanding of mechanical systems and field safety standards. This role gave me the chance to take ownership of a project with real impact, while also gaining hands-on experience in how power is generated and maintained at scale.

August 2023 – June 2024

Event Coordinator - UNLV Satelite Club

As the Event Coordinator for the Rebel Satellite Club, I took the initiative to organize and lead weekly visits to elementary schools in our community. I worked with a team of three engineering students, and together we presented to classrooms of 30 to 40 kids at each school. Our goal was to teach students about space exploration, satellites, and basic physics in a way that was fun and easy to understand. I created PowerPoint presentations with colorful visuals to help explain the topics, and I also took the lead in designing and 3D-printing cube satellite models so the students could see and hold a real example of what we were talking about. To make our lessons even more engaging, we used balloons and string to perform hands-on rocket demos, helping the kids visualize how rockets launch and move. This role helped spark curiosity and excitement about science and engineering in young students.

Sept 2023 – June 2024

IT Assistant - UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law

As an IT Assistant at the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV, I provided hands-on technical support to over 400 students, faculty, and staff, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations across classrooms, offices, and legal learning spaces. I assisted law students with Wi-Fi access, printing, and general troubleshooting, while also helping professors set up classroom tech and stay organized with their digital materials. I took responsibility for preparing the moot courtroom for mock trials, making sure microphones were properly connected, courtroom cameras were set up and recording, and trial footage was successfully uploaded to the cloud. I also enforced proper usage of IT equipment to maintain a secure and reliable environment for all users. My role required clear communication, fast problem-solving, and a strong understanding of academic technology systems.

Personal Projects

Explore some of the engineering and software work I've done.

Arduino SpiderBot prototype V1

Designed and programmed a spider robot using Arduino and stepper motors to navigate autonomously.

C++ Embedded 3D Printing View More

Autonomous Rover

Built and desinged an autonomous rover using an ATmega328PB and a Ultrasonic Sensor

C ATmega328PB DC Motors View More

Handwritten Digit Recognition - Machine Learning Project

Built a Handwritting Recognition machine learning model using the MNIST Data set using tensorFlow.

Python TensorFlow OpenCV Numpy View More

High performance Custom PC

I built this custom white PC with a focus on clean cable management, s trong airflow, and quiet cooling. It uses a liquid-cooled system with multiple fans and is designed for high performance in gaming, multitasking, and future upgrades.

Hardware assembly Custom PC building Component compatibility planning View More

Overdrive Guitar Pedal

I designed and built a custom distortion pedal (overdrive), using resistors, capacitors, and a breadbaord. I tested live using my guitar.

LT Spice Software simulation Circuit Design View More

Arduino Radar System

I Built a radar system using an Arduino Mega and a micro servo motor. I used a UltraSonic sensor to detect nearby items.

Arduino Servor Motor UltraSonic Sensors View More

Fruit Detection Model - Machine Learning Project

I developed a fruit detection model using my own data set with YOLO and PyTorch.

YOLO Pytorch Self-Made Data Set Python View More

Gaspar J. Montoya