Gayathri Mohanlal Profile Photo

GAYATHRI MOHANLAL

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University

New York, NY

gm3248@columbia.edu

About Me

I’m driven by the intersection of robotics, automation, and Industry 4.0—building manufacturing systems that are practical, scalable, and ready for real-world use. I enjoy being close to the production floor, where designs are assembled, tested, and refined, not just imagined. I thrive in collaborative environments focused on improving reliability and turning emerging technologies into solutions that work at industrial scale.

Professional Experience

Manufacturing Engineer | The Boeing Company, Bangalore, India

Aug 2023 – Apr 2025

Spearheaded the optimization of manufacturing sequences for 777-9 aircraft wiring systems, focusing on the elimination of bottlenecks within the production lifecycle. By integrating Lean principles and rigorous SQCDP analysis, I executed process improvements that realized a 15% reduction in cycle time and a 20% decrease in wiring rework.

Mechanical Engineering Intern | Gates Industrial Corporation, Bahrain

Feb 2023 – May 2023

Overhauled and inspected offshore hydraulic skidding systems by implementing structured validation and maintenance procedures. Through rigorous root-cause analysis of pump and motor failures, I executed system optimizations that successfully increased equipment uptime by 10%.

Electromechanical Design Intern | Schneider Electric, Bangalore, India

Jun 2022 – Jul 2022

Advanced the electromechanical design of circuit breakers and switch gears through iterative modeling in Creo and structural validation in ANSYS. These refinements resulted in a 10% reduction in tooling complexity and assembly time while maintaining strict adherence to performance standards.

Projects

Yard Roomba: Autonomous Leaf-Picker

Creative Machines Lab, Columbia University

Jan 2025 – Present

An autonomous leaf-picking robot designed for efficient outdoor cleanup. It uses three independently driven motors for stable motion and a centrifugal vacuum system optimized for high-volume leaf collection. Built for outdoor use, the robot handles uneven terrain with ease and delivers reliable, consistent leaf pickup.
Autonomous Leaf-Picking Robot CAD

Electrochemical Machine

Columbia University

Sep 2025 – Dec 2025

Designed and constructed a complete electrochemical machining prototype, integrating mechanical assemblies, precision fluid flow paths, and critical safety subsystems. Evaluated process stability through iterative testing.
Electrochemical Machining System

Quadra - Quadruped Robot

Columbia University

Sep 2025 – Dec 2025

Developed a four-legged robot featuring integrated sensing and a custom control system for stable locomotion. Fabricated 3D printed parts and assembled mechanical and electronic subsystems.
Quadruped Robot Prototype

Piezoelectric MEMS Microphone

Columbia University

Sep 2025 – Dec 2025

Engineered an AlN-based piezoelectric MEMS microphone using COMSOL Multiphysics. Refined diaphragm geometries through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to maximize sensitivity and support directional sensing.
MEMS Microphone COMSOL Simulation

Regeneratively Cooled Pintle Injector

Columbia University

Sep 2025 – Dec 2025

Designed a rocket injector focusing on DFM and production scalability. Developed a process chain utilizing Laser Cutting, ECM, and DED for complex cooling channels and thermal flow justifications.
Regeneratively Cooled Pintle Injector Design

Research Intern | Chindam’s Lab

Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Jul 2021 – Sep 2021

Applied Vibrothermography to detect micro-defects in CFRP/GFRP laminates. Developed 3D heat-diffusion models in COMSOL, improving flaw detection sensitivity by 25%.
Vibrothermography Research

Technical Skills

Design & Simulation

  • AutoCAD, Fusion 360, CATIA V5/V6, Creo
  • Ansys, COMSOL Multiphysics

Manufacturing & Quality

  • Lean Manufacturing, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), MES
  • Root Cause Analysis, SQCDP

Programming & Other Tools

  • C, C++, SQL, Python, MATLAB, Linux
  • Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite

Education

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering | Columbia University, NY

Aug 2025 – Dec 2026 (Expected)

Courses: Industrial Automation, Advanced Manufacturing Processes, Introduction to Robotics, Robotics Studio, Sustainable Manufacturing, Model Predictive Control, MEMS, Biomedical Innovation

Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering | Manipal University, India

Jul 2019 – Jun 2023

Minor: Machine Design

Extra-Curricular Activities

Head of Graphic Design | ASME Manipal Student Chapter

Sep 2019 – Jul 2022

  • Led a 5-member team for technical symposium branding, increasing engagement by 60%.
  • Organized technical workshops in Adobe Creative Suite for 50+ students.
  • Collaborated with external stakeholders on procurement and quality control for event assets.
  • Amplified digital presence by crafting high-impact technical content and videos.

Volunteer | Guiding Lights Initiative

Aug 2022 – Oct 2022

  • Simplified solar energy concepts into hands-on DIY lamp-building projects for students.
  • Fostered teamwork through engaging group activities to create an inclusive learning environment.

Let's Connect

LinkedIn Profile gm3248@columbia.edu