Hello! I'm Hoang Nguyen (Alex)

$Whoami

Thank you for stopping by. My name is Hoang Nguyen, and I am a U.S. citizen originally from Vietnam.

When I arrived in the U.S. in 2020, my first job was as a Mixer and Machinery Operator. That experience instilled in me a deep appreciation for systems, learn how things work, how they break, and how to fix them. I took that curiosity to Kennesaw State University, where I am now a Junior Computer Engineering student with a 4.0 GPA (70% done of my BS degree).

Currently, I am applying my technical skills in two key roles: Undergraduate Research Assistant and Supplemental Instruction Leader for Kennesaw State University.

Previously, I interned with the Low Voltage Team at Jordan & Skala Engineers, where I gained industry experience in electrical design and telecommunication standards.

My true passion lies in Embedded Systems and Hardware Design. I am currently building custom firmware and FPGA architectures—a dream I once thought was out of reach but is now becoming a reality through dedication, hard work and never give up.

KSU Honors

Double Owl

Double Owl student for Computer Engineering BS/ Electrical and Computer Engineering MS (2027 - 2029)

Kennesaw State University - Honors College (2023 - 2027)

Work Experience

Engineering Internship - Low Voltage Team - Jordan & Skala Engineers, Norcross, GA

(Aug 2025 - Dec 2025)

• Analyzed electrical low-voltage schematics and telecommunication riser diagrams to ensure compliance with NEC standards and signal integrity requirements.

• Performed load calculations and validated technical submittals for commercial building systems, reducing design errors in power distribution layouts.

• Collaborated with cross-functional engineering teams to coordinate cable pathways and equipment clearances for multi-family and commercial projects.

Student Assistant AAF - Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

(May 2025 - Present)

• Facilitating peer-led study sessions for Calculus and Physics. Improved academic outcomes for over 200 students in challenging Calculus and Physics courses, resulting in a reported 30% average increase in final exam scores for session attendees, by facilitating two peer-led study sessions per week.

• Developing interactive learning activities to clarify complex concepts results in improved academic outcomes.

• Collaborating with faculty to align study sessions with course objectives, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.

• Mentoring students to promote independent learning and critical thinking skills, fostering a supportive academic environment.

Meat Mixer and Machinery - Wayne Farms LLC, Pendergrass, GA

(Feb 2021 - June 2022)

• Collaborated within a high-paced production environment, ensuring consistent quality and output

• Ensured cleanliness and operational readiness by thoroughly cleaning equipment after each shift and setting up for the following day.

Undergraduate Research Assistant - Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA

(Jan 2026 - Present)

• Conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics to design microfluidic biomedical devices.

• Modeling non-Newtonian hemodynamic behaviors to analyze cell deformation in Sickle Cell Disease monitoring applications.

• Optimizing magnetic particle tracing and electromagnetic induction models to enhance sensitivity for viral infection biosensors.

Projects

Hardware Engineering

• FPGA UART Receiver & Display Controller (Verilog, Artix-7):

  • Designed a robust UART receiver module in Verilog on a Basys 3 FPGA, implementing a Finite State Machine (FSM) to handle asynchronous serial data at 9600 baud.

  • Engineered a clock divider circuit to downsample the 100MHz system clock, ensuring precise sampling intervals for bit synchronization.

  • Verified logic functionality through behavioral simulation in Vivado and hardware validation using a logic analyzer.

• Digital Logic Traffic Control System:

  • Designed and validated a complex, multi-state traffic light control system incorporating timer-based logic for vehicle flow, pedestrian crossings, and train detection. Utilized the Hneemann Digital Logic Simulator to create schematics, perform functional simulations, and verify the correctness of the custom logic circuits.

Embedded System Projects

• Dual-Chip RTOS Weather Station (STM32 & ESP32):

  • Architected a distributed embedded system utilizing an STM32F405 as the main application processor and an ESP32 as a Wi-Fi co-processor.

  • Implemented FreeRTOS to manage concurrent tasks, using semaphores and queues to safely pass sensor data between the acquisition task and the communication task.

  • Established a reliable UART communication bridge between the two microcontrollers to transmit telemetry data to a cloud dashboard.

• Raspberry Pi Hardware Control & Interfacing:

  • Engineered a real-time environmental monitoring system on a Raspberry Pi Zero using Python and the Sense HAT library. Interfaced directly with hardware sensors to process and display live temperature, humidity, and pressure data, gaining practical experience in hardware I/O and understanding CPU memory access for real-time display updates.

Firmware Engineering

• Optimized Audio Signal Processing Driver (STM32F4 Bare Metal):

  • Developed a high-efficiency audio driver on the STM32F405, utilizing Circular DMA to transfer ADC data directly to memory without CPU intervention.

  • Reduced CPU load by ~40% compared to standard polling methods, enabling simultaneous real-time signal analysis.

  • Wrote direct register-level code (bypassing HAL libraries) to configure clock trees and GPIO speeds for minimal latency.

• TI-84+ CE Low-Level Application (eZ80 Assembly): Developed custom graphing and equation-solving applications for the

  TI-84+ CE calculator using TI Basic and eZ80 Assembly. Got familiar with low-level programming techniques by

  optimizing code for performance and efficient memory usage on resource-constrained embedded hardware.

• Networking & Server Administration: Deployed a multi-service home network environment on a Mac Mini using

  Docker for containerization. Administered services to enhance network security and functionality, including a Pi-hole

  DNS sinkhole, a custom PiFi wireless router, and a private eBook server.

Others