Garrett.
I design systems.
A computer engineer with a passion for systems. I am proficient in many areas of hardware and software, but my real love is low-level programming and computer architecture.
Hi, my name is
About Me
Who I am:
I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, a city I’m proud to call home even as I embrace opportunities to experience new places and cultures. My journey has been shaped by a passion for travel, sports, and music, each contributing to my curiosity, adaptability, and collaborative spirit. Whether navigating a new city, engaging with diverse teams, or playing music with friends, these experiences have deepened my ability to connect with people from all walks of life. These interests outside of engineering have broadened my perspective, encouraging creative problem-solving and a balanced approach to my professional work. I’m known for my enthusiasm, open communication, and willingness to jump into new challenges with energy and positivity. At the core, I believe in bringing authenticity and a sense of fun to every environment—qualities that, I’ve found, help build strong, effective teams and lasting professional relationships.
What I Do:
I am a computer engineering student at the University of Pennsylvania with a strong interest in chip design and computer systems. My academic background bridges both hardware and software, and I am particularly passionate about working at the intersection of these fields. Although my studies often involve late nights troubleshooting in the lab or analyzing waveforms, the experience of bringing innovative projects to life continually fuels my desire to push boundaries and contribute new ideas to the field.
I am currently working full-time in the CyberSavvy Lab under Professors Jinf Li and Andre DeHon, where I am responsible for turning our FPGAs into cloud resources using Docker and Kubernetes.
Tools and Programming Languages:- Docker
- Kubernetes
- SystemVerilog
- Java
- SPICE
- Electric VLSI
- git
- Bash scripting
- Linux CLI
- Python
- Kotlin
- OCaml
- (And always) a positive attitude and a firm handshake
Experience
Setting up cloud communication between FPGAs for easy deployment and updates.
Extensive use of Docker and Kubernetes to containerize and manage applications.
Setting up systems such as NFS servers, QEMU VMs, and Tio device monitors.
Testing for bugs in new releases and focusing heavily on the
power-user experience. Identified several critical
bugs and helped polish the app in preparation for a paid model.
Held recitations and office hours for CIS 2400 Intro to Computer Systems,
a bottom-up course covering transistors, logic gates, boolean algebra, assembly, and C.
Created an additional conceptual office hours that I taught during the weekend.
Hold events for my residents every month under a strict budget. “On call” for several days in the semester - basically, if anything happens
I am called in to document the event and report it to my supervisor. Very eventful!
Education
2023 - present
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
University of Pennsylvania, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Extracurricular Activities
- Penn Latin and Ballroom Dance
2019-2023
High School
Walnut Hills High School
Extracurricular Activities
- Varsity tennis player for 2 years.
- Flutist for my school’s band for several years (as well as solo work).
- Volunteer math tutor for local 8th graders.
Projects
SystemVerilog
RTL
Computer Architecture
RISCV Processor
A multicycle, pipelined RISCV processor built using SystemVerilog.
Implements a cache with the Arm AXI4-Lite protocol for data and instruction memory.
VLSI
Digital IC
SPICE
SRAM Core
A 64-bit SRAM core built from the ground-up with VLSI tools and simulated using Ngspice.
Peripheral circuits include a two-phase clock, bit prechargers, row and column decoders, and data bus registers.
Embedded Systems
Bare Metal C
Low Level Graphics
Music Transposer
Embedded systems project that takes in an input melody and outputs the same melody with a number of half-step shifts determined by the user.
Includes an LCD screen that displays the shifted note. Programmed with bare metal C on the ATMega328PB.
Analog IC
PCB Layout
Soldering
SPICE
Metal Detector
A custom metal detector using a PCB that I routed (not my best work), soldered (when I paid for my mistakes), and tuned myself.
Design uses two oscillators, a mixer, several CS Amps, a CG Amp, and a CD Amp for output.
VLSI
Digital IC
SPICE
8-Bit Ripple-Carry Adder
An 8b RCA designed from scratch using VLSI tools and simulated using Ngspice. Tested for correctness and optimized for performance.