Dexter Lagasca Zamora

Mechatronic Systems Engineering master's student in the Faculty of Applied Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I’m currently a Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) Master’s student in the NeuroSpine Lab. Having finished my undergrad in MSE at SFU, I had the valuable opportunity to work in the NeuroSpine Lab as a co-op student, where I further developed my passion for research and found fulfillment in applying my biomechatronic engineering skills to help people directly by working closely with them.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

SFU provides countless programs to help foster the growth and development of academic researchers. Furthermore, the opportunities the NeuroSpine Lab provides with a fascinating project are hard to pass on when considering my career development.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

I’m working on a test device used in preclinical spinal cord injury research to improve its usability for various users (surgeons, lab technicians, students, etc.) and developing computational models to examine the biomechanics involved in spinal cord injury.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Spinal cord injury, Biomechatronics, Human-computer Interaction

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

TA-ships and RA-ships have contributed significantly by providing opportunities to improve and learn additional skills that will help my engineering development. One of the most valuable skills I learned is how to meaningfully mentor students to foster critical thinking and growth that will help in either an academic or an industrial setting.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I’m incredibly grateful to have received the NSERC – CGSM to support my research. I also received the BC Graduate Scholarship, Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship, and Graduate Fellowship. These awards allow me to focus on my thesis and work on becoming an effective engineering researcher.

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned along my journey as a graduate student is that, first and foremost, we’re still students and that learning is a continued part of our lives. This active learning makes every day exciting, and I hope this learning continues past my graduate studies.

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

I approach networking by coming from a place of curiosity. I’ve always been eager to learn and hear other people’s stories. It’s always interesting to listen to people talk about things they’re passionate about and find connections, whether inside or outside academia.

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

My main tip for balancing academic and personal life is setting your boundaries, and these boundaries could mean different things for everyone. Another tip I would give is to develop a meaningful academic and personal support system to help get through more challenging, stressful periods.

If you could dedicate your research to anyone (past, present and/or future), who would that be and why?

I want to dedicate my research to my grandparents, who passed away from spinal cord injury/fall-related complications, and I hope that this work contributes to developing effective treatments.

Contact Dexter:dzamora@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• LinkedIn
• My Personal Website