Profile
Recent Duke BME graduate (BSE in Biomedical Engineering, '26) with hands-on experience across medical device R&D, embedded systems, and clinical research. I love building things — from PCB-level hardware and firmware to bacterial testing protocols and FDA-compliant clinical workflows. Most recently working as an R&D Research Engineer at Reselute Medical and as a Classroom R&D Engineer in Duke's BME department, designing and validating electronic lab hardware used by students every day. Co-founder of P.A.T.S. Development, where our team built an arterial line training device in collaboration with Duke Med — backed by a $5K VentureWell grant and a provisional patent. Actively seeking full-time roles in medical device engineering, embedded systems, or hardware R&D.
Education

Duke University — BS Biomedical Engineering

August 2022 to May 2026 — Durham, NC

  • Coursework: Embedded Medical Devices, Modern Diagnostic Imaging Systems, Biomechanics, BME Independent Study

Incarnate Word Academy High School

2018 to 2022 — Corpus Christi, TX

Engineering Experience

R&D Research Engineer

December 2025 to Present at Reselute Medical — Durham, NC

  • Designed, validated, and implemented novel bacterial testing protocols to support product evaluation efforts.
  • Conducted literature reviews and synthesized prior research to inform experimental design.
  • Documented and analyzed experimental results to support iterative design decisions and technical reporting.

Classroom R&D Engineer

April 2025 to May 2026 at Duke University BME Department — Durham, NC

  • Designed, fabricated, and assembled electronic laboratory hardware for deployment across BME teaching labs.
  • Developed a stimulus-responsive EKG simulator generating physiologically accurate signals for lab use.
  • Validated hardware performance under extended use conditions to ensure durability and safety.

Makerspace Assistant Manager

August 2023 to May 2024 at The Foundry at Duke University — Durham, NC

  • Supervised day-to-day operations of the Foundry makerspace, supporting student use of fabrication equipment.
  • Trained and onboarded users on safe operation of 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and electronics tools.
  • Coordinated maintenance schedules and ensured compliance with safety standards across the facility.

Engineering Design & Communication TA

August 2023 to January 2024 at Duke University — Durham, NC

  • Mentored student teams through end-to-end engineering design and prototyping workflows.
  • Supported hardware and CAD development for client-driven design projects.
  • Evaluated technical deliverables and design reviews.
  • Oversaw safe use of machine shop equipment.

Engineering Services Intern

June 2023 to August 2023 at City of Corpus Christi Large Projects Division — Corpus Christi, TX

  • Developed and implemented a streamlined workflow that accelerated city audit processes, improving efficiency and reducing processing time.
  • Assisted in the bidding process by organizing and managing files, ensuring accurate and accessible documentation.
  • Identified and exposed discrepancies between contractor agreements and city contracts, contributing to improved contract compliance.

Research Experience

Clinical Research Associate

June 2023 to August 2023 at CHRISTUS Spohn Health System — Corpus Christi, TX

  • Supported emergency medicine clinical studies through compliant data collection and EMR review.
  • Collected and documented patient consent per IRB and FDA guidelines.
  • Collaborated with physicians, residents, and research staff to support ongoing clinical investigations.

Soccer Referee (Grade 6)

March 2021 to Present at U.S. Soccer Federation — National

  • Applied the laws of soccer as designated by The IFAB in a fair and consistent manner.
  • Managed game safety and communicated effectively with players and coaches.

Patents
  • Device and Methods for Arterial Insertion Training | US Provisional Patent No. 63/463,432 — Filed May 2, 2023
Leadership & Extracurricular Involvement

Co-Founder & Developer — P.A.T.S. Development

August 2023 to May 2026 — Durham, NC

  • Led development of a medical training device focused on improving arterial line placement accuracy.
  • Directed device design, prototyping, and iterative testing in collaboration with Duke Med School.
  • Secured a $5,000 VentureWell grant to support continued device development.

Community Outreach Manager & Class Lead — Duke Robotics Mentorship (DuRM)

October 2023 to April 2025 — Triangle, NC

  • Led weekly robotics instruction sessions for middle school students in Durham-area schools.
  • Managed communication and coordination between Duke undergraduate mentors and partner schools.

Equipment & Safety Chair — Duke University Club Ski and Board

August 2023 to May 2026 — Durham, NC

  • Oversaw equipment inventory, inspection, and maintenance to ensure compliance with safety standards.
  • Coordinated equipment logistics and distribution to support club operations and travel.

Member — Firmware & Payload | Duke Club AERO

August 2023 to May 2025 — Durham, NC

  • Developed embedded firmware to control payload release sequencing and system timing.
  • Contributed to the development and integration of a CubeSat-style payload for a student-led rocket mission.

Certifications
Skills
Biomedical Engineering
  • BioSignal Processing
  • Medical Device Prototyping
  • Biomechanics
  • Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT, PET)
  • ISO Standards
  • FDA Regulations
  • EMG
  • Bacterial Testing
  • Phantom Development
Mechanical CAD
  • SOLIDWORKS
  • Fusion 360
  • AutoCAD
  • Onshape
  • GD&T
Electrical CAD & Embedded Systems
  • KiCad
  • EAGLE
  • PCB Layout & Stackup
  • C/C++
  • Embedded C
  • FreeRTOS
  • Zephyr RTOS
Communication Protocols
  • SPI
  • I2C
  • UART
  • CAN
  • USB
  • BLE
Programming
  • Python
  • C/C#
  • HTML & CSS
  • LaTeX
  • Git (GitHub & GitLab)
Prototyping & Manufacturing
  • 3D Printing (FDM)
  • CNC & Manual Machining
  • Laser Cutting
  • PCB Fabrication
  • Bench Testing & Validation
  • System Validation
© 2026 Nicholas Trigger