Where are you from? What brought you to UBC Okanagan?
I am originally from Turkey. I came to UBC Okanagan to become a part of a world-renowned university while still enjoying the benefits of a more close-knit campus setting. After arriving, I participated in the Jump Start orientation program, which quickly integrated me into campus life, and made UBC feel like a second home right away.
In the following years, I was an orientation leader myself and helped welcome new students to the campus.
*Jump Start is UBC Okanagan’s Three-Day Enhanced Orientation Event held at the end of August. It is designed to introduce students to university life, faculty, and new friends, with a wide range of activities and information tailored for students who will be living on campus or commuting.
What inspired you to study engineering?
My interest in engineering began in high school while I was studying the IB Diploma Programme. After looking into the different engineering disciplines, my love for math and physics and their novel applications drew me to Electrical Engineering.
What was the most rewarding aspect of your program?
Being part of clubs and teams helped enrich the learning experience. During the pandemic, I was looking for ways to be more involved outside of classes. Some of my friends and I founded the Innovate, Design, Sustain (IDS) Club. We met virtually throughout the pandemic and the club has since grown to more than 150 registrants. It’s rewarding to see a club flourish that is dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions and benefiting our world.
What are your research interests?
During undergrad, I worked with Dr. Ian Foulds and Dr. Jonathan Holzman. My time in their labs were valuable in helping me develop my research skills and interests. During undergrad I was also inspired by Dr. Sabine Weyand’s classes, which shaped some of my research interests. Overall, I’m excited about biomedical devices that can help people outside of the clinical environment for health monitoring and early detection of diseases, such as wearable and implantable technologies.
What are your future plans?
I recently accepted admission to Stanford University’s PhD program in Electrical Engineering. I will start in September. They have a rotation program that allows students to try different labs and explore different research interests. There is strong collaboration between Engineering and the School of Medicine, so I’ll be collaborating with doctors and medical students at Stanford. I’m excited about where collaborative, interdisciplinary research can take me, and the impact I can have in healthcare.
Any advice for future / incoming students?
The professors at the SoE are fantastic. They are open to undergrad researchers and want to see you grow your skills and succeed in this area. Talk to your profs and see how you can get involved in 2nd and 3rd year! Getting involved in projects and publications helped me gain experience, build my CV, and ultimately get into one of the top engineering graduate programs in North America.