Isaac Jirak
A student of Harvard University's Class of 2025 pursuing an SB in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Philosophy
About
isaacjirak@college.harvard.edu muse.io/isaacj linkedin.com/in/isaacjirak
EDUCATION
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
S.B. Mechanical Engineering with Philosophy Secondary May 2025
GPA: 3.85 • Cross-Registered at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Honors: Harvard Honor Council Member • Human Flourishing Program Fellow • Harvard Catholic Forum Fellow
Thesis: Developing Mechanical Intelligence in Robotic Hands
Udall High School Udall, KS
GPA: 4.00 • Valedictorian • KS Governor’s Scholar • 2020 College Board National Rural Scholar May 2021
President of FFA National Premier Chapter • FFA State Discussion Meet Champion and Panelist
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
JRC Integrated Systems, Inc. Crane, IN
Mechanical and Systems Engineering Intern June 2024 – Present
• Partnered with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane to document and redesign the heritage power distribution
unit for the Trident II D5 Life Extension, proposing 7 unique solutions and analyzing 25 independent failure modes
• Collaborated with 9 independent UK and USA national defense organizations, writing a Concept of Operations,
Systems Engineering Plan, Requirements Verification and Traceability Matrix, and an Integrated Master Schedule
• Actively holding clearance for Secret Level Classification
Rose Debate Institute Boston, MA
Speech and Debate Instructor September 2022 – May 2024
• Taught lessons on public speaking for +80 students in classes ranging from 8 to 30 students (grades 3rd-9th)
• Hosted semesterly tournaments for 15 schools and +100 students, delegating volunteers and coaching students
• Prepared +40 unique lectures, each with 2-3 exercises encouraging engagement and skill development
Alloy Architecture Wichita, KS
Architecture Intern May 2023 – January 2024
• Collaborated in the design development of 15+ independent projects contracted up to $5,000,000
• Drafted +25 unique design concepts for site plans, building facades, floor plans, and custom furniture & cabinetry
• Independently conducted field visits for technical measurements, cutting anticipated time in the field by +30%
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Human Flourishing Program Cambridge, MA
Fellow, Research for Course Credit February 2022 – January 2024
• Partnered with Dr. Jonathan Rutledge on analytic theology research, reinterpreting Teresa of Avila’s metaphysics
• Collaborated in 2 annual, week-long conferences, each covering a selection of +25 books, papers, and poems
Harvard Microrobotics Lab Cambridge, MA
Research Assistant January 2024 – Present
• Conducted thesis research under Prof. Rob Wood for new applications of mechanical intelligence to coordinate the
movements of robotic hands with 6 degrees of freedom without a computer
• Defined analog mechanism capable of achieving 13 unique states for 3 independent grasping strategies
• Designed and constructed a 74-part prototype 3-D printable in under 4 hours for rapid iterations.
Originally from rural Kansas, I am an ambitious scholar interested in the intersection between creative design and systematic engineering, drawing from new modes of thinking in philosophy. I aspire to give back to the communities that helped me grow by offering innovative solutions through rethinking problems.
Engineering Project Spotlight
Below are some of the highlights from my professional and academic projects.
Alloy Architecture
During my most recent internship over the summer of 2023, I spent 11 weeks developing ten different projects through Revit, AutoCAD, and SketchUp in close communication with clients, contractors, and registered architects. Pictured are some of the firm's projects I worked on.
ES 51: Computer-Aided Machine Design
During this course, I collaborated with four of my peers on a term project to build an RC robot within the parameters of a class competition at the end of the semester. Here are some samples of our design.
ES 50: Introduction to Electrical Engineering
After working with basic electronic components to create prescribed circuits with practical applications, the course culminated in a self-led final project. My team decided to design and construct a pair of thermal-sensitive speakers that could orient themselves to the nearest listener.
ES 120: Mechanics of Solids
Drawing from a semester of studying how different structures react to stresses from different applications of force, my teammate and I entered a bridge-building contest with the rest of our class. Below are pictures of the competition and our construction process.
Other Interests
When I'm not keeping up with schoolwork, I like to keep myself engaged with extracurriculars on campus or furthering my personal development through my hobbies. I am a firm proponent of lifelong learning, and I love to dive head-first into my interest, learning new skills through self-initiated research and practice.
To give a quick summary of some of my interests,
I love anything that leads me to the outdoors
If there's travel, sign me up
And nothing beats a little music or a good book
Click the picture to the right to find out more!
