Vortex Robotics

I am a life-long learner of the science of light, logic, and life. I enjoy mentoring the younger generation. Coaching the Vortex Robotics team is my favorite hobby outside of work. At work, I lead an interdisciplinary research team at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub that designs robotic microscopes.

Coach David is a passionate engineer and dedicated robotics mentor with over three years of experience guiding young innovators. He has successfully led teams in a variety of prestigious competitions, including WRO (World Robot Olympiad), FLL (FIRST LEGO League), and FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge). Now in his second season coaching FTC teams, Coach David brings both technical expertise and infectious enthusiasm to every build session and competition.

Ethan describes himself as both an engineer and a designer, though he may not excel at either. He studied biomedical engineering in college over 30 years ago and remains so passionate about his field that he founded his own company, developing robotic tools for biomedical researchers. When he’s not consumed by work, he enjoys mentoring younger generations—inspiring them to explore engineering or at least nurturing their curiosity about it

Coach Shashvat is a junior at San Mateo High School and one of the coaches for the team. He was a part of Vortex for 3 years, and was co-captain for 2 of those years. He helps out across the team wherever he can, but mainly focuses on the software side of things. Outside of robotics, he enjoys cooking, making 3D animations, and going to the gym.

Coach Melody is a student at UC Berkeley double-majoring in EECS and Business through Management, Engineering, and Technology (M.E.T.) Program. She has been involved in FIRST Robotics for over a decade, starting in FLL in 2nd grade. Coach Melody has a strong passion for robotics, captaining the 2022 FTC World Championship team and 2022, 2023 Team USA. This is her third season as a coach, and she currently serves as the Outreach and Business Coach on Vortex Robotics.