Applied Engineering Research Lab

Join / Contact

Recruitment, sponsor conversations, and collaborator outreach live in one place. If you want to understand why machines work, not just assemble them, start here.

Who We're Looking For

You don't need to have done this before. You need to be serious about learning it.

AERL is where we derive models, simulate systems, build prototypes, and explain the results clearly. There's room for people at different knowledge levels, as long as they show up and do the work.

What to include when you reach out

What discipline or skills do you bring?
Which committee interests you most?
Do you want hardware, firmware, controls, simulation, or documentation work?
How much time can you commit each week?

Contribution Areas

Controls & Dynamics

You like math and want to understand dynamic systems at the equation level — PID, LQR, rigid body dynamics, and state-space models.

Simulation & Software

You write Python and want to model physical systems before hardware exists — numerical integration, system behavior, and validation.

Electronics & Power

You care about power paths, signal integrity, connectors, regulators, and reading datasheets until the system behaves the way it should.

Hardware & Fabrication

You like building physical prototypes — mechanical integration, mounts, tolerances, packaging, and making the real system match the model.

Documentation & Ops

You think documentation is the difference between a real lab and a hobby project. You write clearly and care about handoff.

Not Sure Yet

You don't know exactly where you fit. That's fine — tell us what you're trying to learn and we'll find where you're useful.

Collaborators

Control systems and estimation
Embedded software and validation
Simulation workflows
Technical review
Publications and open-source release quality

Official contact channels

Email: aerl@deanza.edu

GitHub: github.com/aerlab-deanza