sam burns

About

📷 🖼️

Experience

Work Experience

R&D Engineering Intern

nTop · Internship

May 2025 - Present

New York, NY

Undergraduate Research Fellow

USC Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

Aug 2024 - Present

Los Angeles, CA

Engineering Intern

Alayna · Internship

May - Jun 2023

Remote

Education

Bachelor of Science: Aerospace Engineering

University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering

Graduation May 2027

Los Angeles, CA

GPA: 3.96/4.0

Awards

Half Century Trojans Scholarship • USC Dornsife •

2025-2027

A merit-based scholarship awarded to undergraduate students who are direct descendants of Half Century Trojans, recognizing academic achievement, leadership potential, and community service.

8 to 11 new scholars are chosen each year, with about 20 active recipients.

Dean's List • USC Viterbi •

Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024

Dean's Research Award (DRA) • USC Viterbi •

2024-2025

Coursework

Mathematics

Calculus I

Calculus II

Calculus III

Differential Equations

Mathematical Methods in Engineering

Physics & Engineering

Physics Mechanics & Thermodynamics

Physics Electricity & Magnetism

Flight Mechanics

Fluid Dynamics

Statics

Materials Science

Mechanics of Materials and Structures

MATLAB

Projects

HR One – Business Jet Design

Led CAD and geometry design using Onshape for an innovative ultra-long-range business jet. Demonstrated expertise in aircraft layout optimization, aerodynamic integration, and technical documentation while managing cross-functional requirements.

Onshape CAD MATLAB CG & Mass Distribution Aircraft Design FAA/ADA Compliance Technical Drawing

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Deep Q-Learning: Project and Study

Created an environment which guided a simple plane to land and wrote a study analyzing different parameters combinations I used to maximize training with deep q-learning.

Machine Learning Deep Q-Learning Python

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Live Control for Quadruped Robot

Developed an extension for MuJoCo Playground that enables real-time control of a pre-trained Unitree Go1 robot policy using either gamepad controller or keyboard. The system bridges simulated locomotion with user inputs for interactive robotic control.

Reinforcement Learning Robotics Python MuJoCo

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