Shock-Compressed GaAs Spectroscopy Platform

Raman / SERS / fluorescence spectroscopy for high-pressure materials.

Built and aligned a complete optical test platform for probing structural changes in GaAs under shock compression.
Designed sample handling, calibration routines, and repeatable measurement procedures.
Generated data used in a peer-reviewed paper on shock-compressed GaAs.

AIP Publishing

Arched and Irregular Curtain Rod System

Product engineering and small-batch manufacturing under Mikolaichik Solutions.

Designed a hardware solution for non-standard arched windows.
Iterated geometry and tolerances for clean installation, structural integrity, and manufacturability.
Implemented packaging, installation documentation, and a How to Video.

MikolaichikSolutions.com

Quadruped Robot “Regis”

Sandbox for robotics, gait, and mechanical design.

Designed and built a quadruped robot as a platform for motion, control, and sensing experiments.
Integrated structure, servos, control electronics, and power distribution into a maintainable layout.
Used the platform to explore gait stability, robustness, and field-serviceability of legged systems.

Code & projects on GitHub

Aviation Systems & Veteran Maintainer

8 years working on F/A-18 aircraft systems in Navy & defense industry.

Performed structural, mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic system troubleshooting on F/A-18 Super Hornets.
Led teams in safety-critical repairs, inspections, and system readiness checks under military QA protocols.
Applied engineering discipline, documentation accuracy, and procedural rigor in high-stakes environments.

Navy VFA-151

Bio

I’m a Texas-based Applied Physics & Test Engineer with a background in aircraft systems, experimental optics, hydraulics, and electronics.

After 8 years working on F/A-18 aircraft in the U.S. Navy and defense industry, I earned a B.S. in Physics from UTSA, where I worked in Dr. Xuan Zhou’s optics lab on spectroscopy of nanomaterials under high pressure. I now run Mikolaichik Solutions LLC, a small engineering and scientific solutions company focused on practical hardware and experimental systems.

I enjoy designing, building, testing, and iterating on physical systems – whether that’s an optical setup, a robotics platform, or a piece of hardware that solves a real-world problem.