Pedro Leite

Education

GPA: 3.83

GPA: 3.33

Skills

• English (Fluent)
• Spanish (Fluent)
• Portuguese (Native)

Projects

(Click on them for more info)

• 1^st Place in AE 443 Systems Design Project - Spring 2023
• 1^st Place in AE 353 Drone Race Competition - Spring 2022

Work Experience

As a Course Assistant for the Aerospace Control Systems class, I had the opportunity to mentor students as they navigated complex topics in control theory and system design. My role extended beyond the classroom, where I held regular office hours to provide personalized support, guiding students through challenging homework problems, class assignments, and intricate design projects. In the classroom, I was a hands-on resource, assisting with in-class activities, helping students debug simulation software, and offering insights that bridged theoretical concepts with practical applications. My responsibilities also included evaluating and grading student projects, where I provided detailed feedback aimed at fostering a deeper understanding and encouraging innovative approaches to problem-solving. This experience not only honed my technical expertise but also strengthened my communication and leadership skills, as I learned to convey complex ideas in a clear and accessible manner.

In my role as a Teaching Assistant for the Autonomous Systems course, I took on the responsibility of independently leading lab sections where students engaged in hands-on learning. Throughout the semester, I guided students through the intricate processes of system identification, controller and observer design, and the implementation of these systems to stabilize a Crazyflie 2.1 quadrotor drone. My approach combined technical instruction with practical insights, ensuring students not only understood the theoretical aspects but also gained the skills to apply them effectively. I also provided one-on-one support during office hours, helping students debug their code and clarify conceptual challenges. My dedication to student success was reflected in the end-of-semester evaluations, where I received a teaching effectiveness rating of 4.75/5.00. This experience reinforced my passion for teaching and deepened my understanding of autonomous systems, as I collaborated with students to overcome complex engineering challenges.

During my internship at Azul Airlines, I collaborated closely with a team of five to analyze and manipulate complex Excel spreadsheets, with the goal of identifying and addressing unsatisfactory sales. My role involved not only diving into the data but also critically evaluating my teammates’ ideas and proposals to streamline project development and ensure our strategies were effective. One of my group's key contributions was the formulation of a data identification algorithm, which was successfully implemented by the company to enhance their sales analysis process. This experience allowed me to develop a strong foundation in data analysis and collaborative problem-solving, while also contributing to real-world improvements within the company.

Resumé

Interests

I have always been a huge fan of philosophy. Plato's ideal education system had physical education as one of the three required topics for every student, as to him a strong mind needs a strong body. With this in mind, one of my favorite physical activities is to go on a hike when I travel to cool places, that way I get to see and enjoy nature. Some of my favorite hikes were at Yellowstone National Park, and Vinicunca in Peru. On a regular day, I also love lifting weights and swimming laps at my local sports club. Apart from the pool, I like diving into youtube videos, often in engineering or coding project videos as I see them as an easy and engaging way of learning new topics.

I also enjoy reading books, especially (but not exclusively) "realistic" sci-fi or non-fiction books. Apart from the usual benefits of reading that everyone talks about such as increasing focus and creativity, I find that books make me dream more at night and also makes it easier for me to remember them, which is really interesting and gives me time to reflect on them which I enjoy. Anyway, some of my favorite books in no particular order are:

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• The Republic by Plato
• The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
• A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

and probably a few others that I forgot to list here.