About Me

I'm Isaac Adjei - most people know me as Zac. I'm an Electronic Engineering and Computer Science student at Aston University, Birmingham, working towards a First Class BEng degree. I am a Top 40 Finalist for the Black Heritage Undergraduate of the Year Award 2026 and was named Best and Most Hardworking Student at Stanmore College. My goal is to build a career at the intersection of intelligent software and efficient hardware - systems that solve real problems for real people.

My journey began in Ghana, where curiosity and hands-on problem-solving shaped me from an early age. I spent my senior high school years at Adisadel College in Cape Coast - one of the most prestigious boys' schools in Ghana, guided by the motto “Vel Primus, Vel Cum Primis” (Either the first, or with the first). I lived in Thomas Jonah House and was active in Robotics, Scripture Union, PENSA, Debate Society and Sports & Athletics, serving as APOSA Secretary. Adisadel instilled in me resilience, discipline and a standard of excellence that continues to guide everything I do.

In April 2022 I relocated to the UK. I initially enrolled in a business course at Stanmore College in London, but after two months I knew engineering was where I belonged. I approached the college, sat the necessary exams to demonstrate my aptitude and commitment, and transferred onto the engineering programme. I graduated with D*DD (Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction) in the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Engineering. That decision - to take a risk, back myself and change course entirely - shaped how I approach every challenge since.

My hands-on engineering roots go back further. Between 2019 and 2021 I worked as a Junior Apprentice HVAC Technician in Accra, Ghana, servicing and installing over 50 air conditioning units on-site, using diagnostic equipment and learning the discipline of real field technical work. That foundation, combined with the legacy of my late father who was a mechanical engineer, drives my determination every single day. He used to say “Always strive to make things better.” During school vacations I would accompany him to work and watch engineering come to life in his hands. His passion and the impact of his work are a constant source of motivation.

My journey has required resilience, discipline and long-term consistency, and those values now shape how I approach engineering and leadership. I care deeply about accessible technology and practical systems that serve real users. I am a Student Representative at Aston Students' Union, a Student Member of the IET and a member of the Aston Computing Society, Aston Ghana Society and Aston Gaming Society.

Beyond university I have gained professional experience across different sectors. In 2024 I completed internships at the Ghana High Commission London - first as a Consular Intern supporting visa processing and public-facing enquiries, then as an Admin and Estates Intern managing facilities and administrative operations. Between 2022 and 2025 I worked as a Waiter and Food Runner at Casa do Frango Piccadilly, developing communication, composure under pressure and customer service skills alongside my studies.

Technically I work across the full stack: bare-metal C and C++ on microcontrollers, PCB design in KiCad and Proteus, full-stack web with Next.js, PHP 8.2 and MySQL and AI/ML with Python, TensorFlow and PyTorch. I am also expanding into cloud computing, cyber security and game development. My projects include a two-stage audio amplifier designed and manufactured as a PCB from scratch, a 4x4x4 NeoPixel LED Cube with adaptive brightness and four animation modes, a full-stack CV database with 11 production security measures deployed live at Aston University, a terminal-style personal site at zacess.com built with Next.js, safety-critical control systems for CNC and lift machinery and an open-source Git course with 202 structured topic files. I enjoy understanding how systems work at every layer and building things that move from concept to code to real, tangible output.