Hello! 👋

I'm Joshua McConkie

Applied Mathematics | Modeling, Optimization & Software

About Me

I am an Applied and Computational Mathematics student at Brigham Young University who enjoys using mathematics and software to solve technical problems. My experience includes optimization, simulation, numerical computing, data analysis, control systems, and embedded development. Through research and independent projects, I have built multi-agent planning simulations, analyzed approximation guarantees for resource-allocation algorithms, optimized scientific software, and developed a vision-based feedback control system with custom embedded hardware. I am seeking technical internship opportunities for Summer 2027, particularly in software engineering, modeling and simulation, optimization, robotics, and autonomous systems.

Mathematical Modeling Optimization Simulation Numerical Computing Data Analysis Multi-Agent Systems Feedback Control Python C/C++ Julia MATLAB OpenCV 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
Related technical writing: Centralized vs. Decentralized MRTA

Research Assistant — Quantum Photonics Simulation

BYU Electrical Engineering Department

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
View project repository

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