Bridging engineering, healthcare, and ventures through the IEEE EMBS One Mind Fellowship

What I did during the Fellowship 

The fellowship began in February 2026, during which I was assigned three venture-focused projects in neurotechnology. Similar to the due diligence process used by early-stage investors, I evaluated these investment opportunities by analyzing key aspects of each startup, including market opportunity, competitive landscape, scientific rationale, and regulatory pathway. Since I had not previously worked on venture-related projects, there was a clear learning curve at the outset, particularly in understanding both the evaluation process and the underlying neurotechnologies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), deep brain stimulation, and focused ultrasound (FUS). 

I was then invited to join the OMA closing week in San Francisco from April 13 to 15th to present my findings to a group of mentors. I also had the opportunity to engage in discussions with engineers, researchers, and industry professionals who shared their experiences navigating the biomedical ecosystem. Many of these conversations focused on the challenges of translating research into products, particularly in highly regulated healthcare environments. These discussions made me realize how important it is for engineers to understand not just “how to build,” but also “how to deploy.” 

One of the highlights during my trip to San Francisco was a site visit to Attune Neurosciences, a medical device company developing the world’s first wearable, non-invasive ultrasound system for deep brain therapy. I had the opportunity to speak with the Attune Neurosciences engineering team to better understand the underlying engineering concepts, validation tests, and how the device is designed to be patient-specific. In addition to the tour, we discussed broader aspects of FUS with Attune Neurosciences co-founder Dr. Keith Murphy, including future directions, key challenges, and commercialization hurdles. 

The parallel between academia and industry exposure 

As a biomedical engineering student, I am used to thinking in terms of experiments, validation, and iterative design. This fellowship introduced a new perspective: how these same principles translate into industry and entrepreneurship. 

I was particularly struck by how similar the underlying processes are. Both academic research and startup development rely on continuous iteration—testing assumptions, refining hypotheses, and incorporating feedback. However, in industry settings, this feedback loop is often shaped more directly by clinical needs, regulatory requirements, and market realities. 

What I learned from the fellowship 

The most valuable lesson I took away from the IEEE EMBS x OMA Fellowship was a shift in perspective. Before the program, I primarily viewed biomedical engineering through a research lens. After the fellowship, I began to see it as a multi-layered system that integrates engineering, clinical practice, policy, and commercialization. 

The experience also reinforced my interest in working at the intersection of medical technology development and real-world implementation. It encouraged me to reflect on my current research project on developing computational simulations for patients with cardiovascular disease, and to think more intentionally about how my technical skills can contribute to solutions that are not only innovative, but also accessible and impactful. 

With these experiences and insights, I look forward to attending the upcoming 48th annual IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference (EMBC) in Toronto and sharing my learnings with the broader student community. 

Acknowledgements 

I am especially grateful to all the mentors, startup founders, and speakers who generously shared their experiences and insights with me throughout the program. I would like to thank Dr. Erika Ross Ellison from IEEE EMBS and Dr. Sara Shnider from OMA for providing me with such a meaningful platform to engage in healthcare innovation. I also thank Dr. Ting Yang Chen from IEEE EMBS for administrative support. Finally, I would like to thank the University of Toronto Institute of Biomedical Engineering for giving me the opportunity to share my experience with everyone.