EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY / BETHUNE-COOKMAN University

LinkedIn Profile

Douglas Turner is the project manager for the Embry-Riddle / Bethune-Cookman EcoCAR EV Challenge Team.

He is from Orlando, Florida, and has a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering (High-Performance Vehicles focus). Currently, he is in his second year of his Master of Science in mechanical engineering (High-Performance Vehicles focus).

He has a passion for cars, especially competitive and consumer vehicles. Outside of work, he loves to play video games and socialize with his friends, watch racing series like Formula 1 and World Endurance Championship, travel around the world, and explore Florida's unique nature.

LinkedIn Profile

Skye Myers is a junior studying mechanical engineering with a concentration in robotics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She is the head of the communications team and focuses heavily on organizing events and outreach, fostering relationships with community members, and completing all deliverables.

She has been a member of the team since Year 4 of EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, becoming the communications manager in Year 1 of EcoCAR EV Challenge.

In her free time, she hangs out with friends, studies in Starbucks, or calls her family.    

LinkedIn Profile

Gianna Rose Distefano is a second-year master's student in mechanical engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She obtained her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in biomedical systems.

This is her second year with EcoCAR, serving as the diversity, equity, and inclusion manager last year.

In her undergraduate, she worked on a project for developing a silent speech interface to be programmed into augmented reality/virtual reality devices to aid in times when a person is unable to speak out loud, but still needs to communicate with others.

She is from New Jersey, has an adorable pet Pac-Man frog named Clementine, and she is currently working on a road-trip across America book project where she reads one book that takes place in every state.

LinkedIn Profile

Originally from Massachusetts, Kevin is currently pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering with a focus in robotics. He has graduated with his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Embry-Riddle in May of 2022.

Kevin joined EcoCAR in Year 4 of the Mobility Challenge and for his senior design project, he designed an eye-tracking system for determining driver attentiveness in autonomous vehicles. He has served as the Connected & Automated Vehicle Systems team manager and leads the software development team responsible for enabling SAE Level 2 Autonomy on the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ.

In his free time, Kevin enjoys going to the beach, playing video games, and watching the Patriots on Sundays.

LinkedIn Profile

Molly Mersinger is currently a 3rd year PhD student in human factors. She works under Dr. Alex Chaparro in the Applied Perception and Performance Laboratory on Embry-Riddle's campus.

Her current research and publications focus is on transportation advancements, especially those in Semi-autonomous vehicle technology. She has been an EcoCAR team member since Year 4 of the Mobility Challenge. Her best advice for any person considering EcoCAR is to "just go for it."

On the Human-Machine Interface/User Experience team, we will always find somewhere to showcase your skills and to teach you more," she said. 

LinkedIn Profile

Devon has served on Embry-Riddle's EcoCAR team for the past 3 years, dating back to the beginning of Year 3 of EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. He served as connected and automated vehicles lead in Year 4 of EcoCAR Mobility Challenge and has been the technical specialist since Year 1 of EcoCAR EV Challenge, which has enabled him to contribute positively to the team for several years.

LinkedIn Profile

Tara is attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and working towards a mechanical engineering degree with a concentration in high-performance vehicles. She became involved with EcoCAR in 2022, during Year 4 of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge and was able to attend part of the Year 4 Competition in Yuma, Arizona.

As the electrical lead, she is responsible for knowing both the high and low voltage electrical systems on the vehicle and how to work around them safely. Alongside those responsibilities, she also is a manager and recruiting coordinator for Embry-Riddle's NCAA DII Cross Country and Track and Field Teams.

Tianna Brown is a junior majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics at Bethune-Cookman University.

She aspires to pursue a career in data science after college. She is originally from San Diego, California. She enjoys spinning her flag, reading and volunteering. This is her second semester in EcoCAR as a communications lead for BCU.

LinkedIn Profile

Nathan is a bachelor's student in his last semester studying mechanical engineering with a concentration in high-performance vehicles at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Nathan is planning on attending Embry-Riddle to acquire his master's as well while remaining involved with the team. This is his second year on the team, and he is happy to be contributing as the systems design and integration lead, taking on the challenge of repackaging the entire LYRIQ drivetrain.

Nathan is from Florida and has two kittens, Scottie and Harry, who are the light of his life.

LinkedIn Profile

Santosh Lamichhane is a senior at Bethune-Cookman University majoring in computer engineering. At the intersection of code and creativity, Santosh aspires to be a software engineer, weaving his passion for technology into innovative solutions.

Beyond the binary world, Santosh finds solace in the pages of novels and histories, exploring diverse narratives. A traveler at heart, he seeks new horizons and experiences, blending the realms of both the virtual and the tangible. He's a future software engineer and avid explorer of worlds, both real and imagined.

Brian is a master's student studying mechanical engineering with a concentration in high-performance vehicles. He graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a mechanical engineering degree in 2023. It is his second year on the team after  serving as a PCM sub-team member his senior year, and he is very excited to continue providing his knowledge and experience.

During his first year, Brian was tasked with the simulation and development of re-engineering the LYRIQ propulsion system. He also has worked on a variety of other projects as an undergraduate, such as Formula SAE and Project Thetis, an autonomous beach cleaning robot.

Brian enjoys watching most sports such as football, basketball, and hockey and is also likes outdoor activities such as stand up paddle boarding and kayaking.

LinkedIn Profile

Patrick Currier is a professor and interim chair of mechanical engineering at ERAU. He is a graduate of Tennessee Tech University and earned his MS and Ph.D. at Virginia Tech.

His research areas are mechatronics, autonomous systems and hybrid systems, and he has been involved in student projects for over 20 years including Baja SAE, IGVC, SUAS, Roboboat, Robosub, and RobotX. He has served as the lead advisor for ERAU EcoCAR for EcoCAR 2, EcoCAR 3, EcoCAR Mobility Challenge and EcoCAR EV Challenge.

LinkedIn Profile

Juan Calderon is an assistant professor of Computer Science and Engineering at BCU. He is an electronic engineer from Santo Tomas University, earned his MS at Los Andes University and his Ph.D. at the University of South Florida.

His research approaches the field of autonomous multi-agent systems and mobile robotics. Most of his experience focuses on mobile robotics, autonomous navigation, swarm robotics and image processing. He was the founder and lead of the STox's soccer team for the Small Size league of Robocup from 2009-2017. In addition, he founded and directed the Robotics Lab of GED-USTA 2003-2017.

Currently, he is the director of the Mobile Robotics and Intelligent Systems Lab of BCU.

LinkedIn Profile

Dr. Barbara Chaparro is a professor in the Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology Department and head of the research in User eXperience Lab at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Dr. Chaparro’s research interests involve human factors, applied human-computer interaction, usability assessment methods, end-user requirement gathering and augmented/mixed reality experiences.

Dr. Chaparro received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Texas Tech University and worked in the software industry before moving to academia. She has published many research articles and technical reports and regularly presents at Human Factors and Applied HCI conferences.