ESP Biography



SAMUEL FIGUEROA, MIT PhD student studying Nanomaterial Strength




Major: MECHE

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: 2027

Picture of Samuel Figueroa

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Hi! My name is Sam Figueroa, a PhD student in MIT MECHE. I graduated from UC San Diego in NanoEngineering. I do research on 3D printing of ultra strong nanomaterials for armor and building materials.

In my spare time, I do parkour, calisthenics, critique movies, and have a deep love for archaeology.

Excited to get a chance to teach you some cool stuff!



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

E15974: Tales of Antiquity though engineering in Spark 2024 (Mar. 16 - 17, 2024)
Embark on a captivating journey into the mysteries of Antiquity in this lecture on archeology and engineering. Learn how machine learning techniques are transforming the restoration of broken early Roman pottery, unravel the secrets hidden within the charred Herculaneum scrolls, explore the celestial marvels of the Antikythera mechanism, marvel at the color-changing phenomenon of the Lycargius cup, and discover the remarkable strength behind Roman concrete. Join us as we uncover the ingenuity and brilliance of ancient civilizations and the technological advancements shaping our understanding of history!


E15975: Tales of the Americas through biology and genetics in Spark 2024 (Mar. 16 - 17, 2024)
What is the common point between milk, giant sloths, Chihuahuas, and sweet potatoes? This is not the start of a terrible joke nor the strangest ingredients list ever made, but evidence and stories that archaeologists and biologists are using to retrace the journey of people in the Americas. Join us as we unravel the mysteries surrounding the first humans to set foot in the Americas, decrypt Vikings' legends on their early discovery of the continent, and learn about the marvelous navigation of a tuber over hundreds of miles in the ocean.


C15729: Creating Generative Art with Code in Splash 2023 (Nov. 18 - 19, 2023)
An often overlooked use of programming is as a creative medium. Instead of the traditional brush or pencil, code can be used to generate everything from abstracts to landscapes and beyond. In this class we will be using the graphical library Processing to create our own works of art. The class will open with a brief intro to the language/environment and walk you through creating your first piece of generative art. Additional examples and sample techniques will be introduced to inspire and get your creative juices flowing. In the end, you'll leave with your own mini-portfolio and the tools needed to make infinitely more!