Hello! 👋

I'm Joshua McConkie

Applied & Computational Mathematics Student | Autonomy & Optimization

About Me

I am an Applied and Computational Mathematics student at Brigham Young University interested in autonomous systems and optimization. My work combines mathematical modeling with hands-on engineering, with a particular focus on state estimation, path planning, and controls. Through research and projects, I have built multi-agent planning simulations, developed approximation guarantees for resource-allocation algorithms, and designed a vision-based feedback control system with custom embedded hardware. I am seeking opportunities in autonomy and robotics.

State Estimation Path Planning Control Systems Optimization Multi-Agent Systems Robotics Python C/C++ Julia MATLAB OpenCV ESP32 Embedded Systems Linux Git

Projects

Ball-on-plate system tracking and balancing a ball
01

Ball-on-Plate Balancing System

Built a closed-loop control testbed with camera-based ball tracking, real-time state estimation, and PID control. Developed ESP32 firmware for two-servo actuation and IMU feedback over I2C, along with supporting custom PCB hardware.

PythonCOpenCVState EstimationPID ControlESP32
Performance comparison for receding-horizon multi-agent coverage planning
02

Multi-Agent Coverage Planner

Created a configurable simulator for receding-horizon multi-agent coverage planning. The planner achieved 97–99% of full-horizon coverage while reducing runtime by 2.5–10× across benchmark scenarios.

PythonPath PlanningMulti-Agent SystemsOptimizationData Analysis
03

Circuit Analysis Solver

Programmed a C++ modified-nodal-analysis solver for resistor networks and independent sources, representing circuits as linear systems to calculate node voltages and component currents.

C++Linear AlgebraCircuit Analysis

Experience

Research Assistant — Multi-Agent Planning & Optimization

BYU IDeA Labs

Mar 2026 - Present
  • Developed a multi-agent grid path planner that achieved 97–99% of full-horizon coverage with a 2.5–10× runtime reduction
  • Proved a 50% approximation guarantee for a robust round-robin resource planner against the optimal solution
  • Identified failure conditions for adjacency-constrained path-planning guarantees

Research Assistant — Quantum Photonics Simulation

BYU Electrical Engineering Department

View project repository
Nov 2025 - Jan 2026
  • Optimized a Julia research simulation codebase, achieving an approximately 60× speedup through allocation reduction and hot-loop refactoring
  • Contributed to the optimization and simulation of a hybrid Gaussian and non-Gaussian quantum-optics state engine

Research Assistant — Econometrics

BYU Economics Department

Apr 2025 - Sep 2025
  • Built statistical-modeling and large-scale data-preparation workflows in Python and Stata for causal-inference research
  • Supported reproducible quantitative analysis of relationships between language learning and career outcomes

Education

B.S. in Applied and Computational Mathematics

Brigham Young University

Expected Apr 2028
  • Major GPA: 4.00/4.00; ACT: 35/36
  • BYU Merit Scholarship; Bain Case Competition second-round participant (2025)
  • AI Association team lead and Competitive Programming Association member
  • Coursework in analysis, differential equations, computational linear algebra, signals and systems, circuits, computer systems, data structures, and econometrics