About Me
Dexter Lagasca Zamora, EIT
Academic Background
I hold a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechatronic Systems Engineering (MSE) from Simon Fraser University (SFU). My academic journey continues at SFU, where I am pursuing a Master of Applied Science in MSE within the NeuroSpine Lab. During my studies, I was awarded the NSERC CGS-M Scholarship, recognizing my potential to contribute to the field meaningfully.
Professional Journey
My professional journey started as an undergraduate co-op term working at EIM Technology as an Electronics Engineer/Technical Writer. I was offered to work there after the co-op term ended. My responsibilities varied widely from contributing to an educational book to electrical testing to leading summer classes as a STEM Instructor. These experiences improved my leadership skills and taught me the adaptability necessary to succeed in a small startup environment, contributing to my current research endeavours.
Research Interests
My research interests lie at the crossroads of user-centred engineering and soft medical robotics. Currently, I focus on developing technologies that help address the needs of preclinical spinal cord injury researchers. I am passionate about integrating user feedback with computational modelling to create tools that advance scientific understanding and improve real-world outcomes.
Volunteer Experiences
Alongside my academic and professional background, I actively pursue volunteer opportunities to participate in events that promote and demonstrate advancements in medical robotics. An exciting event I volunteered for was the Cybathlon 2024, which took place at ETH Zürich in October. I was the referee for the Vancouver hub for the teams competing from Western Canada. This competition hits the core of my belief - developing meaningful engineering solutions that directly improve people’s lives.
Beyond the Work
Outside my research, I am an avid language learner and music enthusiast. I enjoy the challenge of mastering different ways of communicating. Music is my creative outlet, and I enjoy expressing emotions sonically. These interests in language and music enrich my perspective, fueling my curiosity and creativity in my research and personal life.
Currently, I’m part of an amazing lab that actively engages in university events, including fun community activities like handing out Halloween treats to local elementary school kids. This year, I added a creative twist by making my own 3D-printed Remy from Ratatouille costume, bringing some movie magic to the event! Shoutout to Christina Ernst for the inspiration—check out her website and her version of Remy that went viral!