Bio: I’m Sam (they/them pronouns). I am a design engineer, researcher, and community organizer for BIPOC in the outdoors. In Jan. 2023, I began my PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University, which is located on the original homelands of the Mary’s River or Ampinefu Band of Kalapuya. I currently work in the Design Engineering Lab, advised by Professor Andy Dong. Before this, I worked at HP Inc. as a senior mechanical design engineer and MEMS process engineer developing HP’s first color MultiJet Fusion 3D printer and 2D inkjet printhead technology, respectively.
My doctoral research examines how social norms govern longstanding design theories, heuristics, processes, and technology outcomes over time. To answer my research questions, I integrate interdisciplinary theories and tools from engineering design research, technofeminist studies, qualitative data analysis, patent analysis, social cognition psychology, R.
This website provides a look into my research practice and community organizing work via Corvallis Climbers of Color, an organization I founded that reduces entrance barriers to climbing and the outdoors for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). I have been awarded multiple nationally competitive grants to fund my organization’s mission; you can read more about my work in the ‘Corvallis Climbers of Color’ tab of this website.
Positionality: I also bring perspectives as a first-gen engineer and graduate student, which is informed by my identities as a non-binary queer person living with an acquired mobility disability. Culturally, I am a product of Chinese and Korean immigrants and was raised to be frugally creative but was privileged to not worry about basic needs. These identities ground me and I am honored and privileged to be doing this work because of my amazing support network of friends, family, and community. I also have a blog where I write more about my queer Asian and disabled identities, including my recovery following a near-death climbing accident in Summer 2022.
What’s next: I am looking for post-docs or tenure-track positions starting in 2026-2027.
Contact: kangsa at oregonstate dot edu
Corvallis, OR, is located within the traditional homelands of the Mary’s River or Ampinefu Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (https://www.granderonde.org) and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians (http://ctsi.nsn.us).
