Nir Katchinskiy graduates with PhD in electrical engineering.
While growing up in Israel, he wanted to do something practical like designing a product and prototyping. And it certainly didn't hurt that he was good at math and physics.
After completing his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at the University of Alberta in 2012, he took up the challenge of graduate studies. He graduates today with his PhD in electrical engineering.
He first met his supervisor, electrical engineering professor Abdul Elezzabi, during his undergraduate classes.
"It was an easy choice, I liked and respected him," said Katchinskiy. "We had discussed research opportunities, and it was a good match."
Katchinskiy's research mainly focuses on the application of femtosecond laser pulses toward biomedical applications.
"I always wanted to work and research something in the medical field," he added. "I want to do something that helps other people."
During his research, Katchinskiy developed two main technologies.
The first is a precise technique to attach biological cells, such as neurons, to each other by using lasers to "weld" the cells together. Katchinskiy and his supervisor were the first in the world to achieve this. In 2016, they published the research behind this achievement in the flagship scientific journal Nature Scientific Reports.
The second technology is a new method of cancer treatment using cancer-targeting gold nanorods and femtosecond laser pulses.
Katchinskiy notes that when you're trying to develop new technologies that no one has worked on before, you can't just google a solution.
"This really allowed me to learn how to tackle problems, and be independent," he adds. "I think that makes me a better engineer."
As for the future, Katchinskiy says, "I am drawn into working in the industry. I'm also a business-oriented person. We are currently exploring opportunities for a startup around my research using femtosecond laser pulse technology in the treatment of various eye conditions."