Ben Vaccaro — radar sensing, ML systems, neural interfaces

Boston, MA · Open to research collaborations

Research across radar sensing, machine learning systems, and neural interfaces.

Incoming @ MIT BWSI · SWE @ Synthica · AI research @ MIT Mantis AI · Rev A @ Solderable · Hack Club × NASA ambassador

I am a researcher and engineer in Boston working on sensing and machine learning systems. At MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Beaver Works Summer Institute I study synthetic-aperture radar carried on unmanned aircraft; at Mantis AI (MIT CSAIL) I build training-data pipelines for AI systems engineering; at Synthica I maintain research-publication infrastructure; and at Solderable I develop a wireless brain–computer interface platform under a Rev A hardware grant.

Alongside the research I captain a SeaPerch underwater robotics team, organize hackathons as a Hack Club × NASA Stardance ambassador, and led a youth grant program that directed $10k to local nonprofits.

Research interests

Radar & remote sensing: Synthetic-aperture radar, unmanned aerial platforms, signal processing.
Machine learning systems: Training-data pipelines and the engineering around AI systems.
Neural interfaces: Wireless brain–computer interface hardware and its bring-up.
Research infrastructure: Tooling that carries scholarly work from draft to publication.

MIT BWSI UAS-SAR: 1 of 21 from 400+
MIT Blueprint: 1st overall
SCSP @ Harvard: 4th overall
Nonprofit grants: $10k YIP lead

Education

summer '26
MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute · UAS-SAR

Selective summer research program in synthetic-aperture radar on unmanned aircraft.
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory
- 1 of 21 from 400+
'23'27
Millis High School

Millis, MA. Class of 2027, currently a senior.

Coursework — AP Physics C (Mechanics and E&M), AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Literature, AP Language, AP Spanish, AP US History; dual enrollment in engineering at UT Austin.
- 95/100 overall
- VP, Student Council
- National Honor Society
- Peer Leadership Club
- Student IT Volunteer

Experience

jul '26now
MIT Lincoln Laboratory · BWSI

UAS-SAR — synthetic-aperture radar on drones.
- Radar
- UAS
- Signal processing
- 1 of 21 from 400+
jun '26now
Solderable

Wireless BCI platform, currently at Rev A.
- Wireless BCI
- Hardware
- Rev A grant
jun '26now
Mantis AI · MIT CSAIL

Training-data pipelines for an AI systems engineer.
- AI research
- Data pipelines
- MIT CSAIL
may '26now
Synthica

Research-publication infrastructure.
- Software engineering
- DevOps
- Infrastructure
'24now
SeaPerch Robotics · team captain

Underwater ROV design and competition.
- Robotics
- Team lead
- Top 50 nationally, year one
'25now
Hack Club × NASA

Stardance ambassador and hackathon organizer.
- Community
- Events
- Outreach

Publications

To be published in preparation

First paper in progress — details to follow.

Projects

UAS-SAR

Active

Synthetic-aperture radar flown on unmanned aircraft.

Radar
SAR
MIT LL

Solderable BCI

Building

A wireless brain–computer interface platform, at Rev A.

Wireless BCI
Hardware

Mantis AI pipelines

Active

Training-data pipelines for AI systems engineering.

AI research
MIT CSAIL

Synthica publishing

Active

Infrastructure carrying research from draft to reader.

SWE
DevOps

MIT Blueprint

Shipped

A working prototype designed and demoed in ten hours.

Hackathon
1st overall

SeaPerch ROV

Active

A remotely-operated underwater vehicle, built to compete.

Robotics
ROV

Honors & Awards

feb '26

MIT Blueprint 1st overall

Built a winning prototype in ten hours.
spring '26

SCSP @ Harvard 4th overall

Recognized among the event's top projects.
jun '26

Xerox Innovation and Technology Award

Innovation and information technology.
'26

MIT LLRISE

Accepted — declined for BWSI.
'25'26

Community Foundation for MetroWest

YIP grant lead — directed $10k to nonprofits.