What course do you teach on and what is your role?
I teach the Medical Robotics and Instrumentation module of the MRes in Medical Robotics and Image-Guided Intervention course. I am also the director of the Interventional Technology and Imaging module of the MSc in Surgical Innovation course.
How has your career led you to teaching?
More than 20 years ago I left behind the ‘careless’ life of mostly playing music, acting and spending a lot of time in bars and clubs. When this lifestyle was no longer sustainable and enjoyable, I came to the UK to study Mechatronics as a mature student. One thing led to another and I ended up at Imperial for a Masters in Computing Science and then a PhD in Surgical Robotics and Imaging. Although my early non-academic life may seem like a waste of time, these early years shaped me into who I am today. I do believe that these early experiences also define how I see and deliver teaching.
What aspect of the course do you enjoy teaching the most?
I enjoy interacting with students and engaging them in practical activities that help strengthen theoretical concepts.
What do you hope your students will go on to achieve on completion of this course?
Both courses I am responsible for attracting students from very diverse backgrounds. I do hope that at the end of these courses, students will have a good exposure to engineering concepts that will help them to expand their horizons in whatever they decide to do next. I do also hope and believe that taking these courses gives them a significant competitive edge in their job applications.
What is your favourite part about teaching at Imperial College London?
The cultural diversity and the large proportion of high-performance students.