Experience

    The road so far

    Research, mechanical engineering, and teaching

    Professional Experience and Roles

    • ResearchApr 2026 – Present

      Research Assistant

      UNSW Sydney, Faculty of Engineering
      Sydney, NSW
      • Investigated low-instrumentation structural health monitoring methods for a research project.
      • Constructed a MATLAB framework for inverse force identification from structural vibration data.
      • Developed models to reconstruct time-varying force inputs from single-sensor measurements.
      • Validated single-sensor approaches against multi-sensor setups in controlled experiments.
    • HardwareMechatronicsFeb 2026 – Jun 2026

      Mechanical Engineering Intern

      Contactile Pty Ltd
      Sydney, NSW
      • Engineered tactile sensing hardware for 3D force-vector measurement.
      • Developed a Python application to generate laser-engraving SVG files across different sensor types.
      • Conducted robotic experiments to capture sensor and gripper signal data for calibration.
    • TeachingMay 2026 – Present

      Research Scholar – Taste of Research Program

      UNSW Sydney, Faculty of Engineering
      Sydney, NSW
      • Awarded $6,000 research scholarship to design water treatment solutions for remote Fijian communities.
      • Building and verifying an engineering solutions database and field deployment outcomes.
      • Conducting co-design field engagement in Viwa Island and Wainika Village to inform final system design recommendations
    • TeachingMay 2026 – Present

      Casual Academic

      UNSW Sydney, Faculty of Engineering
      Sydney, NSW
      • Led weekly lab sessions and workshops for 30–40 students across mechanical engineering courses.
      • Marked student assessments and provided one-on-one technical support during labs.
      • Coordinated lab demonstrations, enhancing student engagement through structured technical guidance.
      • Demonstrated across 4 courses (ENGG2400, DESN2000, ENGG2500, ENGG1300) for 350+ students.
    • TeachingFeb 2026 – Present

      Academic Tutor

      Warrane College, UNSW
      Sydney, NSW
      • Selected on merit for strong academic results in Fluid Mechanics and Mechanics of Solids.
      • Delivered small-group tutoring sessions to Warrane College residents covering core engineering subjects (ENGG2400, ENGG2500. MMAN2700, MMAN2300).
      • Provided one-on-one technical support to help students work through problem sets and exam preparation.
    • TeachingAug 2024 – Feb 2026

      Executive Tutor (Math, Physics, Computer Science)

      Apex Tuition Australia
      Hybrid
      • Delivered 100+ tutoring sessions in IB Mathematics AA (HL/SL), Physics, and Computer Science.
      • Improved exam performance through targeted practice and problem-solving strategies.
      • Adapted teaching approach to individual learning styles across online and in-person formats.

    © 2025–2026 Venuja Rodrigo · UNSW Mechanical Engineering