ABOUT ME
A little context behind the work.
A little context behind the work.
A little context behind the work.
INTRODUCTION
Engineering, empathy, and improving lives.
Engineering, empathy, and improving lives.
Hi! My name is Mckenna Sachs, and I'm a junior at Duke studying mechanical engineering. I believe in engineering with empathy and designing not just for innovation’s sake, but to improve lives and make technologies more accessible and reliable. I created this site to document my adventures in engineering and share some of the cool stuff I’ve built, as well as share a bit more about me!
Hi! My name is Mckenna Sachs, and I'm a junior at Duke studying mechanical engineering. I believe in engineering with empathy and designing not just for innovation’s sake, but to improve lives and make technologies more accessible and reliable. I created this site to document my adventures in engineering and share some of the cool stuff I’ve built, as well as share a bit more about me!
Interests and hobbies
Interests and hobbies
Outside of class, I'm the Director of Toy Modification for Project Tadpole, a member of the Society of Women Engineers, a team member in Combat Robotics, and a volunteer with FEMMES+. Sophomore year, I was part of a research project titled "Building STEM and Community Identity Through Design Thinking", where I developed a framework for evaluating a middle-school engineering experience led by Duke undergraduates. In the Fall 2025 semester, I served as a teaching assistant for Duke's "Computing for Engineers" introductory Python course. I’ve always had a passion for STEM education, which manifested in high school when I founded a chapter of Girls Who Code after taking my first programming course freshman year.
During the summer after my freshman year, I was a test engineering intern at Medtronic in their Ear, Nose, and Throat division. I explored a variety of engineering skills, including soldering, redlining and reading technical drawings, 3D printing, and testing. I supported the full design lifecycle, from system requirement organization to design verification testing.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, weightlifting, and pursuing personal projects. You can explore some of my creations on this site!
Outside of class, I'm the Director of Toy Modification for Project Tadpole, a member of the Society of Women Engineers, a team member in Combat Robotics, and a volunteer with FEMMES+. Sophomore year, I was part of a research project titled "Building STEM and Community Identity Through Design Thinking", where I developed a framework for evaluating a middle-school engineering experience led by Duke undergraduates. In the Fall 2025 semester, I served as a teaching assistant for Duke's "Computing for Engineers" introductory Python course. I’ve always had a passion for STEM education, which manifested in high school when I founded a chapter of Girls Who Code after taking my first programming course freshman year.
During the summer after my freshman year, I was a test engineering intern at Medtronic in their Ear, Nose, and Throat division. I explored a variety of engineering skills, including soldering, redlining and reading technical drawings, 3D printing, and testing. I supported the full design lifecycle, from system requirement organization to design verification testing.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, weightlifting, and pursuing personal projects. You can explore some of my creations on this site!
Experience and education
Experience and education
Duke University - B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Duke University - B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Fall 2024 - Present
Duke University - Bass Connections Researcher
Duke University - Bass Connections Researcher
Fall 2025 - Spring 2026
Duke University - Computing for Engineers Teaching Assistant
Duke University - Computing for Engineers Teaching Assistant
Fall 2025
Medtronic - Test Engineering Intern
Medtronic - Test Engineering Intern
Summer 2025