01ALD reactor & glovebox
A sealed environment, built around real research constraints.
Mechanical engineering · Rochester
Design.
Simulate.
Make.
I’m Chikai Cao, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Rochester. I turn ideas into models, prototypes, and experiments—and learn from the differences between them.
PROJECT 01 / ALDIdeas into physical systems+CAD & simulation+Fabrication & testing+Computation & research
01 / Project index
Work, in practice.10
From a sealed reactor to a synthesized piano. Explore the process, the results, and the lessons behind each project.
01
02Beam Structure Optimization
Optimizing a balsa structure from simulation through fabrication and testing.
03Kei truck aerodynamics
Comparing bed covers through CFD and wind-tunnel testing.
04Air engine: CAD to manufacture
Following a mechanism from a digital assembly to the shop.
05Gravity car & reverse engineering
Body design, structural response, and an assembled vehicle.
06Nanoparticle spectral analysis
Turning high-dimensional spectra into interpretable patterns.
07Interactive MATLAB piano
A graphical interface that turns a click into sound.
08Programmable translation stage
Connecting image coordinates, sensors, and physical motion.
09Particle tracking velocimetry
Using tracer motion to see the structure of a flow.
CURRENT STUDY / 2026Chassis.
Suspension.
Simulation.Formula-inspired electric racecar ↗
10Suspension.
Simulation.Formula-inspired electric racecar ↗
Formula-inspired electric racecar
An independent study in virtual vehicle design and analysis.
No matching projects. Try another keyword or choose All work.
Showing 10 of 10 projects
02 / Experience
Engineering,
with people.
Industry, research, and teaching have shaped how I approach technical problems and communicate the reasoning behind a solution.
Jul–Sep 2026
Beijing, China
Beijing, China
Algorithm / Data Analysis Engineer
Baidu · Applied Products Department
Built Python preprocessing pipelines for ANSYS simulation data, compared AI predictions with CAE results in ParaView, and developed Docker-based workflows for consistent deployment and testing.
Sep 2025–present
Rochester, NY
Rochester, NY
Undergraduate Researcher
Prof. Wenjie Zang’s Research Group
Applied machine learning to microscopy-image detection and principal component analysis to UV–vis spectra, connecting numerical methods with materials characterization.
Fall 2026
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
Teaching Assistant · Mechanical Design
ME 204
Guide students in machine-shop practices, prototyping, finite element modeling, and mechanical design calculations. Support project teams through office hours and technical feedback.
Fall 2025
University of Rochester
University of Rochester
Teaching Assistant · Engineering Computation I
ME 160
Led MATLAB workshops, helped students debug numerical models, and developed applied computation assignments involving trajectories, vectorization, and scoring algorithms.
03 / About
Curious about the model.
Committed to the build.
I’m interested in the full path from an engineering question to something that can be made and tested. My work brings together mechanical design, numerical analysis, manufacturing, and computation.
I’m developing a deeper foundation in design and manufacturing while exploring robotics, controls, and the integration of mechanical and electronic systems.
University of Rochester
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering · Expected December 2026
Schwartz Discovery Grant recipient · Dean’s List
Design & manufacturing
Siemens NX · SolidWorks · Creo
GD&T · Tolerance analysis · 3D printing
CNC machining · Shop fabrication
Simulation & analysis
NX Nastran · ANSYS · FEA · CFD
Buckling analysis · Thermal modeling
Mechanism simulation
Computation & data
MATLAB · Python · PCA
Machine learning · ParaView
Linux · Docker
04 / Contact
Let’s talk engineering.
For research, graduate study, or opportunities in mechanical design and manufacturing, get in touch.