Nia - Biomedical Engineering
I'm Nia, a fourth-year Biomedical Engineering student. As part of a multidisciplinary degree, I've used the majority of lab spaces throughout my four years – from many hours of mechatronics project work in the EEE lab to cell cultures in the bacterial lab.
I've also spent countless hours studying with friends, an experience I look back on fondly. At the start of university, I relied heavily on structured instructions and felt uncertain about tackling open-ended engineering challenges on my own.
My second-year mechatronics design and build project marked a turning point. At first, tasks were structured and guided, which gave me confidence with circuits, coding, and mechanical design. As the project progressed, the instructions became more open-ended, and I had to take more initiative – troubleshooting, researching solutions, and making design choices myself. That shift was a key step in feeling more autonomous in my engineering work. The EEE lab provided the perfect environment for this growth, with dedicated workstations and staff support when I needed guidance, but enough freedom to develop my own problem-solving approaches.
Building on that foundation, my third-year PCR thermocycler project combined electronics with biological systems, showing me how my engineering skills could apply in a biomedical context. I spent many hours in the iForge, the student-run makerspace, where the emphasis on self-direction and peer-to-peer support pushed me to be resourceful and creative while also helping others gain confidence using equipment. Throughout these experiences, I've moved from structured tasks to self-directed problem-solving. The Diamond's diverse lab spaces and supportive community haven't just built my technical skills – they've helped me develop the abilities to take on engineering challenges and find my own solutions.