Calvin Yang
Portfolio / Rev 2026.09 UC Irvine · 33.64°N 117.84°W Open to internships

Calvin Yang.

Curiosity, made physical

From a sci-fi idea to a workbench.

I’m Calvin, a Computer Science & Engineering student at UC Irvine. I build with code, circuits, and magnetic fields, then keep asking why the real thing behaves differently.

See the work Résumé
Fig. 00 — Coil field study
An illustrative air-core model in dimensionless units. The quantitative predictions come from the Python simulator.
Measured muzzle velocity, V3 coilgun, two stages
~11m/s
Velocity lost to suckback, predicted in simulation
46.8%
Coilgun versions built and tested since 2022
3
Expected B.S. Computer Science & Engineering, UC Irvine
2030

§01Selected work04 projects

An idea is a start. The bench is the test.

Four projects across magnetic fields, numerical models, flight simulation, and embedded electronics.

Project 02SoftwareComplete · Sep 2026

Coilgun Timing Simulator

The hardware came first. Now, the model.

A Python physics simulator coupling capacitor discharge to projectile motion through a position-dependent inductance, solved with a custom RK4 integrator. It predicts that 46.8% of my single-stage muzzle velocity is lost to suckback — and where moving the projectile could win much of it back.

Predicted loss after coil centre
46.8%
Energy conservation error
6e-14
Automated tests in CI
22
  • Python
  • NumPy
  • pytest
  • GitHub Actions
Read the case study
  1. Numerical foundation

    Generic RK4 integrator; 4th-order convergence verified.

    Built
  2. Circuit dynamics

    Coupled RLC model checked against the analytic solution.

    Built
  3. Force & motion

    Five-variable state; energy conserved to 6e-14.

    Built
  4. CLI, tests & validation

    22 tests in CI; compared against measured hardware.

    Built

Predicts 9.64 m/s against a measured 6–7 m/s, single stage at 350 V. The gap is documented, not tuned away.

§02The person behind the projects

Curious enough to keep taking it apart.

Science fiction got me wondering what we might build. Electromagnetism gave me somewhere to start.

I’ve spent years turning my desk into a small lab: scavenged parts, stubborn circuits, and another version of a coilgun. I like the moment an equation becomes something I can actually test.

That habit follows me beyond engineering. I review tennis footage to find the patterns I missed on court, and make videos as SomeHeresy (opens in a new tab). Building, watching, adjusting, trying again.

Studying
B.S. Computer Science & Engineering, University of California, Irvine · expected 2030
Focus
Embedded systems, electronics, firmware, electromagnetic simulation
Off the bench
Sci-fi & space · Tennis · Making videos

§03Experience03 roles

Beyond my own workbench.

Working with researchers, building with a team, and learning to reach an audience.

  1. –

    R&D and Simulation Lead

    American Rocketry Challenge · Irvine, CA

    • Improved simulated flight accuracy by 23.2% through iterative OpenRocket analysis.
    • Collaborated with a seven-member team to design and build a 25.6-inch competition rocket.
    • Completed two qualification flights with an official score of 139.8.

  2. –

    Master of Engineering Capstone Project Assistant

    Gaudi Technology · Irvine, CA

    • Revised 3D CAD models in Fusion 360 for printable concrete structures.
    • Prepared concrete molds used for ASTM material strength testing.
    • Collaborated with four Master of Engineering researchers through prototype development and testing.

  3. – Present

    Independent Content Creator

    YouTube · @SomeHeresyGaming (opens in a new tab)

    Subscribers
    50K+
    Total views
    150M+
    • Developed practical experience in audience analytics, rapid iteration, editing, and visual communication.

§04Capabilities

The tools behind the work.

From a circuit on a breadboard to a model I can test against it — and where each one shows up.

Capabilities, the tools and methods involved, and the projects that show them
AreaTools & methodsShown in
01Embedded & firmware C · C++ · Arduino · sensor acquisition · I²C · sequential stage-control logic Arduino monitor · Coilgun
02Electronics Circuit analysis · soldering · sensor integration · breadboard prototyping · hardware debugging Coilgun · Arduino monitor
03Simulation & CAD ANSYS Maxwell · Fusion 360 · OpenRocket · electromagnetic modeling · 3D modeling Coilgun · Rocketry
04Numerical software Python · NumPy · RK4 integration · pytest · GitHub Actions Simulator
05Fabrication & test 3D printing · physical prototyping · iterative testing · concrete mold preparation · failure documentation Coilgun · Capstone
06Software & media Java · Git · VS Code · EasyEDA · CapCut · video editing YouTube

§05Résumé

Résumé & background.

Education, experience, and skills. Read it here or save the PDF.

Calvin Yang · Résumé · 2026

Open PDF (opens in a new tab) Download

Junzhe (Calvin) Yang

Education

University of California, Irvine
Expected Jun. 2030

Bachelor of Science, Computer Science and Engineering · Irvine, CA · GPA: 4.00/4.00

Skills

Programming Languages
Java, Python, C/C++, JavaScript, HTML/CSS
Software
ANSYS Maxwell, Fusion 360, VS Code, EasyEDA, OpenRocket, NumPy, pytest, Git, GitHub Actions, CapCut, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Claude, Codex

Projects

Electromagnetic Accelerator
Jun. 2022 – Present

Individual Project · Irvine, CA

  • Designed and built a two-stage coil gun, solving the challenge of precisely timing sequential electromagnetic coils to efficiently accelerate a projectile.
  • Used ANSYS Maxwell 2D for electromagnetic field simulation and coil-timing optimization, Fusion 360 for mechanical design, 3D printing for fabrication, and Arduino for stage-control logic.
  • Achieved approximately 11 m/s across two stages with a 54.64 g projectile using four 400 V, 330 µF capacitors.
Coilgun Timing Simulator
Aug. 2026 – Sep. 2026

Individual Project · Irvine, CA

  • Built a Python coilgun simulator coupling circuit dynamics and projectile motion via position-dependent inductance, using a custom 4th-order Runge-Kutta solver.
  • Validated against the analytical RLC solution; confirmed 4th-order convergence and energy conservation with a relative error of 6×10⁻¹⁴.
  • Automated 22 tests across 3 Python versions in GitHub Actions. The model predicts a 46.8% velocity loss to magnetic suckback and a projectile-placement change that could raise exit velocity by 37%, pending hardware testing.
Arduino Sensor & Control System
Jun. 2026 – Jul. 2026

Individual Project · Irvine, CA

  • Built a real-time sensor monitoring system using an Arduino Uno R3, integrating an ultrasonic distance sensor and temperature/humidity sensor with an OLED display.
  • Developed C++ firmware to read sensors, update an OLED display, and handle errors.
  • Integrated digital sensor inputs and implemented I2C communication with the OLED display.

Experience

UCI Master of Engineering Capstone Project Assistant
Jan. 2025 – Jun. 2025

Gaudi Technology · Irvine, CA

  • Revised 3D CAD models in Fusion 360 for printable concrete structures.
  • Assisted with fabrication and preparation of concrete molds used for ASTM material strength testing.
  • Collaborated with 4 MoE student researchers during prototype development and testing.

Activities & leadership

American Rocketry Challenge
Nov. 2025 – Mar. 2026

R&D and Simulation Lead · Irvine, CA

  • Improved simulated flight accuracy by 23.2% through iterative OpenRocket analysis.
  • Collaborated with a 7-member engineering team to design and build a 25.6-inch competition rocket.
  • Completed two competition qualification flights, achieving an official score of 139.8 total.
YouTube
Jan. 2026 – Present

Content Creator · Irvine, CA · youtube.com/@SomeHeresyGaming (opens in a new tab)

  • Built and grew a YouTube channel to 50,000+ subscribers and 150M+ total views.

§06ContactOpen to internships

Let’s build something real.

Open to engineering internships, UCI student teams, research opportunities, and projects involving embedded systems, electronics, firmware, or simulation.