Ethen Dhanaraj
Electrical Engineering Student
First-year at UC Santa Cruz, passionate about circuit design, embedded systems, and renewable energy solutions
About Me
Hey! I'm Ethen, a student at the University of California, Santa Cruz studying Electrical Engineering. I'm driven by a love for engineering innovation and fascinated by the analytical nature of finance—two fields that fuel my curiosity about how systems and patterns work and evolve to progress society.
Onshape
CAD Software
Fusion
CAD Software
CSS
User Interface
JavaScript
Interaction
Python
Programming
NodeJS
Web Server
React
Framework
TailwindCSS
User Interface
Featured Projects
Electromagnetic Car
May 2025An innovative project demonstrating electromagnetism and circuit building principles. The car uses a steel bolt wrapped in copper wire powered by two AA batteries and a parallel breadboard circuit to magnetize objects while moving. Successfully picked up fifteen paperclips while driving.
Features:
- •Battery pack routed in parallel
- •Steel bolt electromagnet
- •Motor connected to gear train
Challenges:
- •Optimizing field efficiency
- •Managing power consumption
- •Reducing interference
Results:
- •Picked up fifteen paperclips
- •Ran for over two minutes
- •Max speed 5 cm/s
2x2 TV Wall
May 2025A 2x2 TV wall creating a large, unified display for improved visibility and classroom functionality. Controlled by an Arduino, it synchronizes power, input switching, and brightness, allowing flexible use of individual or combined screens.
Features:
- •Four TVs as one large screen
- •Separate screen use
- •Integrated audio
- •Smart control via Arduino
Challenges:
- •Aligning TVs
- •Combining inputs
Results:
- •Fully functional TV wall improving display quality
Experience
High Voltage System Member
Formula Slug
Oct 2025 – Present
Santa Cruz, CA
As an Electrical Team Member, I'm working on high-current cabling and the power electronics box, contributing to the electrical systems that power our competition vehicle. Our team tackles real engineering challenges while developing technical skills and leadership in electric racecar design.
Electrical Engineering Student
University of California Santa Cruz
Sep 2025 – Present
Santa Cruz, CA
Majoring in Electrical Engineering (B.S.) and minoring in Technology and Information Management. Planning to complete my Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UCSC.
Machine Learning Intern
Ushur
Jun 2023 – Aug 2023
Santa Clara, CA
As one of only five students selected for this opportunity, I gained hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI and automation technologies at Ushur. I learned about conversational AI, Natural Language Processing, and workflow automation while working with no-code platforms in regulated industries such as healthcare and financial services. The experience exposed me to machine learning model training, AI-powered workflow development, and enterprise-grade software practices while collaborating with teams to solve complex automation challenges.
Engineering & Computer Science Pathway
Mountain House High School
Aug 2021 – May 2025
Mountain House, CA
As a dual PLTW pathway student, I completed both the Engineering and Computer Science pathways simultaneously over four years, mastering circuit design, mechanical systems, and programming fundamentals. I balanced two demanding curricula while completing numerous hands-on projects, including my capstone TV Wall system that combined four televisions into one unified display. This interdisciplinary experience provided me with broad technical expertise and the ability to approach complex problems from multiple perspectives.
Let's Connect
I'm always excited to collaborate on interesting projects or discuss new opportunities in electrical engineering and technology. Feel free to reach out!