Welcoming back FAS alumni

May 02, 2022
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We wish a warm welcome to our returning FAS alumni from the School of Engineering Science, who graduated virtually in 2020 and 2021 to our in-person celebration. Meet our alumni and read how SFU has helped prepare them for their careers!

CAREESA LIU

'20 PhD, School of Engineering Science

Company: Myant Inc | Position: Senior Researcher | Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What do you do in your current position?
Myant creates wearable textile-based sensors for continuous health monitoring. As the company expands into new domains like brain health, I am creating software and hardware innovations that enable people to better understand their brain function. I am also involved in development and validation of novel next generation sensor technologies. 

What is a valuable skill or lesson that you have learned since graduating?
I have worked in both academia and industry since graduation, and the one constant in both is the importance of collaboration and partnerships. Whether the collaboration is for a new research project or to expand use cases for a company’s products, the most valuable skill is building and maintaining relationships.

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?
I created a new research area during my PhD, and have subsequently continued to develop this area in academia as well as explore commercialization opportunities. My training at SFU allowed me to gain a well-rounded perspective in understanding both the technical aspects of engineering and the importance of technology commercialization. 

What advice would you like to share to students who are preparing for graduation?
There are fantastic opportunities in both academia and industry following graduation. It is always a good idea to keep an open mind in exploring different career options, and you may be surprised at what amazing opportunities await.

SHAWNA LEE

'21 BASc, School of Engineering Science

Company: NeuroCatch Inc. | Position: Biomedical Engineer | Location: Surrey, British Colubmia, Canada

What do you do in your current position?
NeuroCatch Inc. is a medical device company developing the NeuroCatch Platform. It uses an EEG-monitored audio test to analyze brain activity, providing an objective evaluation of cognitive function. On the biomedical systems team, we work with mechanical/electrical design, testing, and manufacturing, all while navigating the associated medical device regulations.

What is a valuable skill or lesson that you have learned since graduating?
I've learned that as an engineer, you must embrace challenge and not let failure affect you too much. It's rare to achieve ideal results the first try, so you're always thinking of improvements. My mindset became much more optimistic when I began viewing roadblocks as opportunities to think creatively.

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?
I was one of the first undergrads to challenge Bonnie Gray's biomedical microdevices course. Through that I secured a co-op developing a novel biosensor which used those techniques. I also took a course on clinical neuroscience that used the NeuroCatch Platform technology I work on today. Everything was interconnected! 

What advice would you like to share to students who are preparing for graduation?
This is the beginning of a new chapter, so setting goals for after graduation can provide motivation and direction. As a new graduate, you know much more than you think you do! However even though your degree might be finished, be prepared to constantly be learning and expanding your skillset. 

SRISHTI YADAV

'21 MASc, School of Engineering Science

Company: CubicFarms Corp. | Position: Machine Learning Engineer | Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

What do you do in your current position?
I’m currently working as a Machine Leaning engineer in Ag-Tech space developing solutions for food supply chain. We leverage high quality data (e.g. food images) and are working to provide predictive analysis about food quality and their yield. My work, in collaboration with plant scientists and farmers, is enabling consistent, indoor, high quality nutritious food and feed, in any climate, 365 days a year.

What is a valuable skill or lesson that you have learned since graduating?
I graduated in the middle of the pandemic and having talked to many people during networking and giving interviews, I realized that as much as it is important to know the right skills, it’s equally helpful to have a platform which shows it. It could be a webpage, blog posts or even YouTube videos showing demos. I highly encourage current students to have a platform with details of your work to support the things you mention on your resume. It really helps. 

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?
SFU played a very important role in introducing me to the latest research in my field, a knowledge which I actively get to use in my work. Meeting people from different cultures also helped me broaden my perspectives and build diverse connections. I’ll always cherish the mentorship from my advisor, the friends I made and the time I spent with these friends in and out of campus. 

What advice would you like to share to students who are preparing for graduation?
It’s an exciting world out there. Don’t overstress yourself with the expectations of “what may happen.” If possible, take a break and travel for a few months. Prepare yourself best you could but life after graduation is another journey of its own with its lessons. Allow it to unfold and enjoy the process. 

SUJOY HAJRA

'20 PhD, School of Engineering Science

Company: National Research Council Canada | Position: Associate Research Officer | Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

What do you do in your current position?
What happens inside the brain of an astronaut operating in space or a pilot performing flight maneuvers? As a neuroimaging scientist and neurotechnology innovator, I create and commercialize technology advances that both improve our understanding of brain function and enable assessments of cognitive state in such complex situations.

What is a valuable skill or lesson that you have learned since graduating?
A valuable lesson has been finding out that soft skills are equally if not more important than technical skills. For example, as a supervisor, it is vital to be able to provide constructive criticism but this is a skill that I had to learn on the job after graduating. 

How has your experience at SFU prepared you for your career path?
My PhD work created the world’s first brain vital signs, which has now become a Health Canada approved device. This provided me with both technical skills and exposure to pathways for technology commercialization. This duality is unlike traditional graduate school experiences and have enabled me to become a well-rounded researcher.     

What advice would you like to share to students who are preparing for graduation?
My advice would be to go into a new area for the post-graduation position. Often it can be scary to go into a new area especially after years working within one area as a PhD student. But going into a new area can actually be quite rewarding and fulfilling.