Abstract
My technical work and STS research are connected through the theme of life-saving interventions in crisis environments. Both projects address how electrical engineering systems can be designed to protect vulnerable populations, but differ in scope. My technical work focuses on the micro-level implementation of an electronic device empowering first responders to navigate challenging conditions and locate distressed individuals. Conversely, my STS research explores macro-level electrical infrastructure, analyzing how deliberate administrative decisions caused systemic failure and loss of life during a grid crisis. Together, they highlight that engineering for human safety requires both precise technical solutions and proactive leadership.
My technical work explores the design and implementation of the "Cell Seeker," a prototype for a portable radio frequency direction finding receiver engineered to assist search and rescue (SAR) teams. In remote environments, traditional aerial or satellite-based tracking is frequently hindered by low visibility or absent GPS service. To overcome this, our team developed a system that can directly track radio frequency (RF) transmissions from cellular devices. Operating on the 1.24-1.3 GHz amateur radio band for testing, our system uses custom-designed microstrip patch antennas, Wilkinson power combiners, and a ring hybrid to implement direction-finding using a phase-comparison monopulse technique. These analog RF signals are fed into a software-defined radio (SDR) and a Raspberry Pi, which process the data to provide an intuitive, compass-like visual interface for users to locate the direction of the test transmitter’s signal.
My STS research examines the 2021 Texas power crisis, where Winter Storm Uri triggered a catastrophic grid failure, leaving 4.8 million people powerless and causing hundreds of deaths. Using Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network Theory (ANT), I evaluate the moral blameworthiness of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Scholars typically view the crisis merely as a technical failure or legal issue; however, I argue ERCOT is morally responsible because it actively maintained a vulnerable network despite explicit foreknowledge of risks. Furthermore, ERCOT contributed to the collapse through improper load-shedding and deliberately creating weatherization loopholes. By analyzing ERCOT as a network builder that failed to align human and non-human actors' safety needs, the paper demonstrates this disaster was a preventable outcome of human decision-making, emphasizing the need for sociotechnical accountability.
Working on these projects concurrently expanded my understanding of engineering as a holistic discipline. Through the technical project, I learned the low-level implementation details of precise RF systems and how analog and digital subsystems interact, emphasizing the necessity of rigorous testing in hardware and software co-design. This influenced my STS research, revealing parallels between low-level engineering and high-level infrastructure. Just as Cell Seeker required strict testing and precise integration, I realized large-scale systemic failures are preventable through similarly proactive policy, robust planning, and rigorous component testing. Ultimately, both projects reinforced the interconnectedness of technical engineering and comprehensive project management. As I enter my career, I will apply this holistic perspective, ensuring the systems I develop are technically rigorous, proactively managed, and ethically implemented to safeguard the communities they serve.
