Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Degree: Ph.D.
Year in Program: 2nd Year
Jack Balthasar is an electrical engineer and emerging robotics researcher with a strong focus on embedded systems, imaging, controls, and underwater robotics. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama and is preparing to continue into graduate research in ECE, with interests spanning FPGA architectures, autonomous systems, signal processing, and multi-robot platforms.
His work includes hands-on engineering at the USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility and FLOW Academy, where he has supported student teams, developed microcontroller and IoT systems, worked with camera-based flow measurement tools, and explored PIV/LSPIV, optics, and field instrumentation. He is especially interested in building robust technology for real-world environments, including underwater communication, autonomous surface and underwater vehicles, and sensor-driven robotics.
Beyond research, Jack is a builder and systems thinker. He works across hardware, software, 3D printing, electronics, FPGA design, and robotics prototyping, with a long-term goal of becoming a highly capable engineer who can bridge theory, lab testing, and practical deployment.