Aloha!

Computer Architecture
Internet of Things
FPGA Programming
Smart Space Frameworks
Sewing & Costume Design
Algorithms
Edge Computing

About Me

I'm Cristina, a computer engineering graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoā. I've served as a research assistant for the UH Ambient Computing Lab directed by Dr. Darren Carlson, and as teaching assistant for the undergraduate lab Digital Systems and Computer Design.

My current research is focused on creating cyber-physical services for our lab's smart space framework—Ambient Edge. Some examples include indoor positioning services, smart and interactive lighting, and digital/gamified therapeutics using patient bodytracking.

I'm from the small island of Kauaʻi, but recently moved to Seattle. I spend my free time embroidering and sewing stuffed animals. You could say I work with hardware, software, and soft wares!

Cristina McLaughlin

A slippery hike to Wailua Falls

Research Interests

Computer Architecture

Instruction set architecture, microarchitecture, and implementation. Relationships between assembly language programs like MIPS, ARM and LEGv8 and the hardware it runs on. Memory hierarchy, storage, and caching algorithms.

Cyber-Physical Systems & Internet of Things

An ecosystem of algorithms, networking, and hardware programming that enhance physical environments for users. Space aware services that vary based on location, application, and user ability.

Hardware Programming

FPGA, PIC microcontroller, and Arduino programming using different IDE's like Xilinx Vivado and MPLAB X. Use HDL's such as Verilog and SystemVerilog to design complex digital circuits.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Digitally enhanced, interactive, and creative environments. Systems for learning and digital therapeutics that require users to physically manipulate the digital data. A true blend of software and graphic design!

Fun Facts

I love making lasagna from scratch—including the noodles!
I'm from Hanapēpē, "The Biggest Little Town" on Kauaʻi
Starter Pokemon:
Turtwig

Resume

Education

May 2021
University of Hawaiʻi at Manoā

M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Relevant Coursework

• Computer Architecture
• Advanced Network Algorithms
• Machine Learning
• Selected Topics in Wireless Security

2019
University of Hawaiʻi at Manoā

B.S. in Computer Engineering

Relevant Coursework

• Digital Systems and Computer Design
• Computer Data Structures and Algorithms
• The Internet of Things

Experience

Aug 2020 - Dec 2020
UH Manoā
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• Digital Systems and Computer Design: Supervised 165-minute online lab sessions twice a week focused on implementing ARM/LEGv8 assembly programs, SystemVerilog digital circuits, and Xilinx Vivado/FPGA applications

• Developed course material for the transition to online learning—including a Discord server to conduct lab hours, PowerPoints for supplemental information, and videos tutorials explaining projects

• Graded writing intensive technical lab reports with an emphasis on grammar usage and mechanics

Aug 2019 - May 2020
UH Manoā
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Graduate Research Assistant

• Ambient Lab Smart Space: Worked both with faculty advisor and independently to conduct 20 hours of research weekly, to implement solutions for the Ambient Edge platform

• Created distance sensing and interactive lighting Edge services using .NET framework and hardware programming

• Implemented a Unity client that streamed messages from an Azure Kinect body-tracking service over the network and dynamically changed the scene according to the user’s physical movements

• Services were designed using REST communication protocol and messages were serialized using Google Protobuf

• Drafted detailed technical documentation on environment setup, hardware setup, project deployment, and service connection

Jan 2019 - May 2019
UH Manoā
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Object Oriented Programming Grader

• Lab grader for Object Oriented Programming

• Run and assign grades to programs written in C++ lab

• Read through students code, observe commenting and other programming techniques

Aug 2018 - Dec 2018
UH Manoā
Dept. of Electrical Engineering

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

• Digital Systems and Computer Design: Delivered weekly lectures and conducted in-person lab sessions with a focus on PIC microcontroller program design, simulations, and circuit implementation. Labs also included Verilog coding, exporting digital circuits to FPGAs, and designing a pipelined processor using HDL

• Supervised student hardware implementation, enforced safety rules, and maintained lab equipment

• Revised lab manuals and materials to match current IDE/design tool updates

Jan 2017 - May 2018
UH Manoā
Dept. of Physics

Physics Grader

• Graded and alphabetized 150-200 papers weekly for College Physics I/II

• Maintained clear communication with the instructor, but worked independently and efficiently

Technical Skills

Coding Languages

  • C
  • C++
  • C#
  • JavaScript
  • SystemVerilog
  • MIPS
  • HTML/CSS

Tools/Frameworks

  • Xilinx Vivado Webpack
  • MPLAB
  • IntelliJ
  • Unity
  • Linux
  • .NET
  • GitHub/Bitbucket
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Basys 3 Artix-7 FPGA
  • Arduino

Activities and Awards

Student Member, UH Ambient Computing Lab

2017 to Present

Ungergraduate Research Opportunities Grant Recipient

2017

Projects

Media Project 2

Designing Services and Clients for the Ambient Lab Smart Space

Detailed
Media Project 1

Don't Sweat It: A Wearable Stress Monitor

Detailed
Media Project 3

Throughput Analysis of Jellyfish Network Variations

Detailed
Media Project 3

Ambient Edge Kinect Service

Detailed
Media Project 3

Discussion: Fast, Scalable, Programmable Hardware Packet Scheduler

Detailed
Media Project 3

MARS: Caching Evaluation

Detailed
Media Project 3

AR Codes for Immersive Learning

Detailed
Media Project 3

Data Visualization for Contact Tracing Statistics

Detailed