What's up?
I'm Nate, a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). I'm currently pursuing a Bachelors in mechanical engineering and a minor in computer science.
This site is where I share my ideas, interests, and thoughts on topics ranging from engineering, to software development, to food science.
Projects
I enjoy making things. If I didn't I wouldn't be studying engineering.
One purpose of this site is to serve as:
- a hub for projects I'm working on.
- an archive for projects I've finished or have set aside.
- a think tank for projects I'd like to start creating.
Here are a couple of my favorite projects to pique your interest:
Interests
Working Out
In my opinion, hitting the gym is more energizing than coffee. Endorphins from working out keep me relaxed and focused daily.
I don't track my one-rep maxes, so here are the current weights for my weekly sets instead:
- Squat - 275 lbs
- Bench Press - 185 lbs
- Deadlift - 215 lbs
Food Science
I've always had an affinity for food, and not just because it tastes good. For as long as I can remember, I've been interested in the physical, chemical, and biological processes that transform food.
My earliest cooking memory is making cranberry juice in 4th grade. I remember enjoying the process (the how), but my real focus was on the why. What's different about cranberries from other fruits that requires you to boil them down into a syrup to make juice? Why, after boiling, is it necessary to strain the syrup? While the answers to these questions are obvious to me now as an adult, it's this curiousity that persists.
How does one achieve maximum leavening and proper gluten development in a sourdough loaf? In what ways can one lacto-ferment hot sauce to achieve the desired balance of spice and tang? Questions like these keep me interested in food science.
Basketball
I've been a runner all my life. I ran cross country and track from middle school up until the end of high school. When burnout for running hit me in college, pick-up basketball what I needed to reinvigorate my love for sport. Nowadays instead of finding me on runs, you can find me at the nearest basketball hoop instead.
Programming
Software is amazing. Software runs the world. In fact, software is how I built this website. I could say a million good things about software.
Computer science is one of the only disciplines that is widely accesible, applicable to almost everything, and is free in most regards. The multitude of available online resources for computer science makes learning it easy and satisfying.
I was introduced to computer science in high school and have been hooked ever since. I've tried my hand at web development, graphics programming, game design, task automation, etc. At one point in high school I wanted to study computer science instead of engineering, but decided against that. Some things are better left as hobbies. I opted to pursue a CS minor instead, and to take online courses in my free time.
Software skills are becoming ever more important. I believe that to succeed in the future as an engineer, being able to program will be highly important, if not necessary.