Gentex
Vaporsens develops nanofiber‑based chemical sensors designed to detect trace explosives, drugs, and toxic chemicals with dog‑level sensitivity. The company grew out of research at the University of Utah and was later acquired by Gentex to accelerate commercialization. I joined the team during this growth phase, supporting the development and testing of the core sensing systems, and my role concluded when the lab was ultimately shut down after Gentex chose to pursue different technology paths once the chemistry approach no longer aligned with the company’s needs.
Technical Design & Prototyping
I designed and built custom lab research equipment and complex fluid and thermodynamic systems, creating detailed CAD models and CNC‑ready engineering drawings for gas‑delivery, humidity‑control, vacuum, and sensor‑testing assemblies. I implemented the lab’s gas‑distribution infrastructure and developed experimental prototypes—including nanofiber spray‑deposition systems, humidity‑generation modules, and modular sensor‑testing manifolds—using Python to analyze system outputs and guide iteration.
Leadership, Troubleshooting & Documentation
I led a six‑person cross‑functional team to develop next‑generation humidity‑control technologies, facilitating structured brainstorming sessions that produced 210 ideas in 40 minutes and shaped the project’s technical direction. I also performed system‑level troubleshooting for the Analyte Deposition System (ADS) valve‑control platform, conducting pressure‑drop testing, wiring diagnostics, and component‑selection calculations while generating experiment‑driven data sheets to support ongoing research.
In addition to hands‑on development work, I authored technical documentation complete with clear illustrations to streamline onboarding and ensure consistent, accurate use of the equipment and processes we developed. I’ve included a few simple, non‑sensitive snippets in my portfolio, carefully selected (see below) so they convey my documentation style without revealing any proprietary information.
