Maxwell Effron

Currently abroad in Australia: 011-614-05427898

MEffron@seas.upenn.edu U.S: (914) 588-9445
Website: www.seas.upenn.edu/~meffron/
School Address: Permanent Address:
216 S. 41st Street 1 Winterberry Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19104 Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
University of Pennsylvania, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Philadelphia, PA
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Engineering in May 2012
Major: Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics
Cumulative GPA: 3.72/4.0
CAREER OBJECTIVE: To use the techniques and principles of mechanical engineering to create or improve
products and machines to enhance people’s lives.
EMPLOYMENT
TEACHING ASSISTANT AND LAB TECHNICIAN FOR FUNDAMENTALS OF MECHANCIAL PROTOTYPING (Spring 2010 to Summer 2010)
• I helped plan, organize, and grade for a class in which students construct a sterling engine. Based on detailed engineering drawings,
the construction process involved layout, measurement, part generation, milling, turning, computer-controlled machining, and other
manufacturing processes. After building my own engine the semester prior, I provided hands-on assistance to students, helping
them to become proficient in the machining environment.
• I assisted several teams of engineering students lacking experience in the machine shop to complete Senior Design projects. I
helped design plans, and machined a high pressure chamber casing for bacteria cultures, and I helped optimize designs for
a device used to inhibit free rotation, in order to produce a more efficient production process.
Penn HAPTICS GROUP- RESEARCH ASSISTANT (Fall 2009 to Spring 2010)
• Working in the Haptics lab alongside a Ph. D. student in Haptics Research, I designed and developed a tool, called the ‘Haptic
Camera,’ that will be used to transfer a range of data from the physical world into Haptic devices, such as the VerroTouch. Using
CAD and a rapid-prototyping 3D printer, I designed the device to incorporate a Force Sensing Resistor, a six-axis Force/Torque
sensor, a six-axis Accelerometer, and a 3D magnetic motion tracker. I worked to wire the device, and calibrate the different sensors,
optimizing both design and aesthetics.
SCHOOLS OF ARTS AND SCIENCE MULTI-MEDIA SERVICES (Fall 2009 to Spring 2010)
• In my work-study job, I provided in-person and over-the-phone assistance to the Penn community for an array of multi-media
academic support systems, including video conferencing, music and audio recording/editing, and advanced software.
BEN & JERRY’S ICE CREAM, MT. KISCO, NY (2006-2008, Summer 2009)
• Senior shift manager, responsible for four-member crew. Responsibilities included scheduling, quality control, product flow, and
establishing a clean and welcoming environment. Also oversaw catered outside corporate events throughout the New York area.
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
STATICS AND STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
• I designed an optimized trebuchet arm out of truss elements, using MATLAB. The group project required analyzing a simple truss
design, and then designing our own truss to meet an ambitious set of design requirements, including size parameters, design load,
factor of safety, stiffness, cross-sectional area, yield, and buckling.
MECHANICAL DESIGN (CAD/CAM)
• Created an animation involving an exploded view as well as a working simulation of a toy Transformer, which showed both how the
toy is constructed and how it functions (see my website at top of page for animation).
• Conceived, designed, modeled, and constructed a 3-Dimensinoal, rotational version of the game ‘Connect 4’ (see website for video)
STRESS-STRAIN ANALYSIS
• Using the Instron tension/compression tester, a partner and I conducted a series of tests on various materials, and then produced
a professional quality lab report of our findings.
I also have several semesters experience in thermodynamics, dynamics, heat transfer, general chemistry, chemistry labs, chemical
engineering (with an emphasis on mass and energy conservation in terms of industrial design), and calculus I-III.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
WEST PHILADELPHIA TUTORING PROJECT: Serve as a volunteer tutor, teaching mathematics, science, and writing to inner-city high school students.
PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY: Help organize and/or participate in various public-service projects, including Relay For Life (American Cancer
Society); a clothing drive for an orphanage in Botswana; Movember (a prostate cancer awareness initiative); and environmental clean-up
efforts.
AWARDS AND HONORS
NEW YORK STATE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS – awarded for demonstrating outstanding promise in engineering.
PENN WESTCHESTER CLUB DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP – awarded for demonstrating a solid record of achievements in
academics and in the Penn Community.
UNIVERSITY’S DEAN’S LIST – Earned for superb performance in the 2009-2010 academic year.
COMPUTER SKILLS
SolidWorks; Catalyst; C-programming; basic MATLAB; AutoCad; Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Adobe Photoshop, InDesign,
Illustrator; Windows, Mac OS; Sketch-up; Final Cut
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Soccer, cycling, hiking, film, drawing and oil painting, music and concerts, family and friends.