nicholas byrum
Mechanical Engineer
I’m a results-driven mechanical engineering student at Iowa State with an interest in design, logistics, and manufacturing. When I’m not working on projects, I’m usually outside fishing, playing soccer, or golfing. You can read about some of my projects and accomplishments here.
Where I’ve Worked
Work Experience
Co-leading a manufacturing maturity assessment for a pilot factory client, scoring operations across 10 process areas, and building a self-assessment tool for peer benchmarking.
Assisted engineers, project managers, and superintendents across five high-profile construction sites, developing insight that informed process-improvement recommendations.
Conducted three on-site inspections of active construction projects spanning five disciplines to evaluate building techniques, assess project-management workflow, and verify adherence to safety protocols.
Spearheaded a $75,000 intern-led fabrication shop redesign, restructuring material flow and converting the shop into a streamlined manufacturing line to increase throughput and reduce operational costs.
Co-authored a published paper at I/ITSEC 2026 examining AI vs. human incident command in VR-based firefighter training, analyzing how command mode shapes trainee communication and tactical decision-making.
Co-leading a manufacturing maturity assessment for a pilot factory client, scoring operations across 10 process areas and 100+ topics spanning People, Process, and Technology, while architecting a repeatable self-assessment tool for benchmarking against peer companies.
Assisted engineers, project managers, and superintendents across five high-profile construction sites, developing insight that informed process-improvement recommendations.
Conducted three on-site inspections of active construction projects spanning five disciplines to evaluate building techniques, assess project-management workflow, and verify adherence to safety protocols.
Spearheaded a $75,000 intern-led fabrication shop redesign, restructuring material flow and converting the shop into a streamlined manufacturing line to increase throughput and reduce operational costs.
Co-authored a published paper at I/ITSEC 2026 examining AI vs. human incident command in VR-based firefighter training, analyzing how command mode shapes trainee communication and tactical decision-making.
Selected Work
Featured Projects
Research • Published at I/ITSEC 2026
AI vs Human Incident Command in VR Fire Training
Built and evaluated a VR firefighter training environment where an AI incident commander directs crews by radio.
Internship • May – Aug 2026
PDM Precast — Fabrication Shop Redesign
Reorganized PDM’s fabrication shop around a northbound material flow, applying lean and Six Sigma principles to cut waste and improve efficiency and quality.
Design Competition
Mesh the Gap — Multi-Modal Transportation Hub
Designed a modular transit network for the ACE competition, replacing Iowa’s hub-and-spoke system with neighborhood stops that connect buses, shuttles, and ride-hailing into faster local routes.