UNT electrical engineering · Class of 2028

Curious about every system, from the inside out.

I’m Vasilisa Tarasenko, an Electrical Engineering student building hands-on experience across embedded hardware and firmware. I enjoy tracing how individual components become a system that is useful, understandable, and dependable.

Seeking a Summer 2027 engineering internship

Explore my projects

DegreeB.S. Electrical Engineering

LanguagesEnglish · Russian

Current platformRaspberry Pi Pico 2

Working stylePatient · Meticulous · Collaborative

A little about me

I like understanding how the pieces become a system.

Electrical components shape so much of everyday life. I chose this field because I want to understand machines beyond what they do—I want to understand how and why they work.

I moved to the United States from Russia in 2018 and grew up in a family of engineers. That background made technical curiosity feel natural, while adapting to a new country strengthened my persistence and willingness to keep learning.

I work patiently and pay close attention to small details. When a team loses direction or a problem feels overwhelming, I naturally help bring structure: identify the next step, work through it, and keep the group moving together.

Native RussianFluent EnglishQuick learnerCalm under pressure

Selected engineering work

Learning through building, testing, and improving.

I include the evidence behind each project and clearly separate completed behavior from work that is still being developed.

Raspberry Pi Pico 2 air-quality monitor operating in its normal state — Prototype operationalNormal state

Air-quality monitor displaying its alert state — Alert response

Annotated wiring for the Pico 2 air-quality monitor — Documented wiring

Simplified state machine for the air-quality monitor — Designed state behavior

Project 01 · Embedded systems · 2026

Validated prototype

Raspberry Pi Pico 2 Air Quality Event Monitor

A MicroPython environmental monitor that learns a room-specific baseline, detects meaningful humidity and gas-resistance changes, and communicates state through an OLED, LEDs, a buzzer, and serial telemetry.

15: baseline samples
1 s: sample interval
5 s: stable recovery

Challenge

Identify whether unexpected behavior came from firmware, wiring, communication interfaces, or a physical component while keeping the system feedback understandable.

Design

Built the monitor step by step, then combined baseline-relative detection, alert precedence, separate entry and recovery thresholds, timed recovery, and explicit system states.

Validation

Recorded tests captured Normal → Spike Detected → Alert → Recovery behavior and matched the configured humidity thresholds.

Raspberry Pi Pico 2
MicroPython
BME688
I²C + GPIO
SSD1306 OLED
PlantUML
Thonny

Engineering next steps

Add timestamped data logging and long-duration repeatability tests.
Evaluate rolling statistics for additional sensor-noise rejection.
Move the prototype from breadboard wiring toward an enclosed or PCB-based build.

View GitHub repository

Repository snapshotMilestone 01

src/main.py

import sys

print("Hello from the Raspberry Pi Pico 2!")
print("Implementation:", sys.implementation.name)
print("Version:", sys.implementation.version)
print("Board:", sys.implementation._machine)

Verified so far: the Pico 2 runtime. Presence sensing, lighting, calibration, and state behavior remain future implementation work.

Project 02 · Embedded systems concept · 2026

In development

Raspberry Pi Pico 2 Smart Desk Presence Monitor

An embedded desk-monitor concept intended to sense when someone is present and create a more comfortable workspace through automatic status and lighting behavior. The current repository documents the first verified milestone—bringing up and identifying the MicroPython runtime on the Pico 2.

01: verified milestone
Pico 2: target platform
R&D: project phase

Goal

Create a desk system that can infer presence and support a comfortable workspace with automatic status and lighting behavior.

Current work

Verified the Pico 2 execution environment and captured implementation, version, and board identification as the project’s bring-up baseline.

Engineering focus

The next phase is sensor selection, detection-state definition, calibration planning, and repeatable transition testing before feature claims are made.

Raspberry Pi Pico 2
MicroPython
Sensor evaluation
State modeling
Hardware prototyping
PyCharm

Engineering next steps

Compare candidate presence sensors and define measurable selection criteria.
Specify occupied, away, uncertain, and fault states before implementing outputs.
Build a calibration and false-trigger test plan for real desk conditions.

View GitHub repository

How I work

Step by step, with the whole system in view.

Build progressively

I add and verify components one at a time so each part has a clear role before the full system comes together.

Trace the fault

I check software, wiring, interfaces, and hardware instead of assuming the first visible symptom is the root cause.

Create calm

When a group needs direction, I help turn uncertainty into smaller decisions the team can work through together.

Technical foundation

Growing across the hardware–software boundary.

I distinguish between the tools I use in current projects, the technologies I have encountered in coursework and labs, and the areas I want to develop next.

Hands-on now

Embedded development

Raspberry Pi Pico 2
Python & MicroPython
I²C & GPIO
Sensors & OLED displays
Git & GitHub
Thonny & PyCharm

Academic & lab exposure

Engineering tools

CAD
MATLAB
Arduino
C/C++
Soldering
Oscilloscope operation

Building toward

Future direction

Controls
Power systems
Robotics
CAD workflows
Project coordination
Aerospace systems

Outside engineering

Energy for the work starts away from the desk.

I lead an active, healthy lifestyle and make regular workouts part of my routine. Hiking and traveling help me stay curious, while caring for plants and animals gives me a quieter way to reset.

Regular workoutsHikingTravelPlantsAnimal care

Education & next step

University of North Texas

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering · Expected May 2028

Internship goalSummer 2027

Seeking an opportunity in embedded systems, electronics, CAD-supported electrical design, or engineering project coordination, with a long-term goal of contributing to aerospace systems.

Let’s connect

Have an internship where curiosity and careful work matter?

I would be glad to discuss how I can learn, contribute, and grow alongside your engineering team.

EmailVasilisatarasenko001@gmail.comOpen your preferred email application LinkedInConnect or send me a messageOpen my LinkedIn profile