nick byrum
Mechanical Engineer
I’m a mechanical engineering student at Iowa State. I’ve worked in engineering, research, and media, and the through-line is curiosity: I want to know how things are built, and then I want to tell someone about it.
Where I’ve Worked
Work Experience
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.
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 a large-language-model incident commander directs crews over radio during a simulated residential basement fire. Transcript analysis across central Iowa departments showed AI command prompted more explicit tactical reasoning and clarification-seeking than human command.
Design Competition
Mesh the Gap — Multi-Modal Transportation Hub
Developed a modular A–D transit network for the ACE competition using repurposed shipping‑container stops to replace Iowa’s inefficient hub‑and‑spoke system. Integrated buses, shuttles, and ride‑hailing to turn multi‑hour routes into fast neighborhood connections. Produced realistic phased construction plans showing how the adaptive mesh scales with population growth.
Ongoing
Midwest Microbrew
Co-Created a media platform showcasing interviews and stories from Midwest craft breweries including Waldmann, Lakefront, Titletown, and Big Grove with all content produced, filmed, and published on midwestmicrobrew.com and YouTube.