Nathan Tsao
Applied Machine Learning Engineer with experience in generative AI, reinforcement learning, and scalable machine learning. Seeking full-time ML Engineer positions.
Please download my for the most updated version (08/17/2025).
Skills
Relevant Coursework
Education
Master of Science
August 2023 - May 2025University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
GPA: 3.74.
Thesis: Neural Port-Hamiltonian Differential Algebraic Equations
Major: Mechanical Engineering (ML-focused)
Bachelor of Science
August 2019 - May 2022University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL
GPA: 3.87
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Work Experience
Autonomous Aircraft Operations Research Intern
June 2025 - August 2025NASA Ames Research Center
Mountain View, CA
Researching how reinforcement learning driven traffic following behavior among autonomous aircraft in dense airspaces improves travel time and safety.
Hardware Engineering Intern
June 2022 - September 2022Berkeley Lights
Berkeley, CA
Automated data-acquisition and calibration pipeline in Python.
Designed hardware and software integration for custom temperature calibration sensors.
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
December 2023 - May 2025University of Texas at Austin: Autonomous Systems Group
Austin, TX
Designed compositional machine learning frameworks for differential-algebraic systems, enabling scalable modeling of electrical networks.
Developed a low-power, low-latency human activity recognition model optimized for batteryless sensors, resulting in 15-50% relative improvement over baselines.
Publications:
- Cyrus Neary*, Nathan Tsao*, and Ufuk Topcu. Neural Port-Hamiltonian Differential Algebraic Equations for Compositional Learning of Electrical Networks. Accepted to CDC 2025.
- Geffen Cooper*, Nathan Tsao*, Filippos Fotiadis, Ufuk Topcu, Radu Marculescu. Learning from Sparse and Asynchronous Data Streams for Batteryless Sensors. Under review at NeurIPS 2025.
Visiting Research Assistant
May 2022 - January 2023University of California, Berkeley: Hybrid Robotics Group
Berkeley, CA
Implemented a reinforcement learning-based locomotion balancing controller for tailed quadruped robots.
Integrated hardware with custom actuators and motor controllers for robust RL deployment.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
January 2022 - May 2022University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: RoboDesign Lab
Urbana, IL
Prototyped a low-cost force-sensing humanoid robot foot using elastomers and Hall sensors.
Applied Gaussian processes to estimate force signals in humanoid robot feet.
Honors and Awards
Dr. J. Parker Lamb Endowed Presidential Fellowship
2023University of Texas at Austin
Nominated by the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Highest Honors
2022University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Awarded to students with at least a 3.8 Illinois GPA and continual commitment to service and education.
Dean's List
2019-2022University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Awarded to undergraduate students in the top 20 percent of their college class.
Teaching Experience
ASE 370C Feedback Control Systems
January 2025 - May 2025University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
Graduate Teaching Assistant
ME 314D Dynamics
September 2023 - December 2023University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
Graduate Teaching Assistant