Post by Fabiha Chohan

Reflecting on a year that still doesn't quite feel real 💫 I wrapped up my final year at the Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, in Biomedical Engineering with a Minor in Digital Engineering. A few milestones came together in a way I'm still processing. 1️⃣ My work on Ag/AgCl reference electrodes for microneedle biosensors was published in SPIE Proceedings on March 5, 2026 (https://lnkd.in/eXjvRQSz). It was my first paper, and a project that pushed me in ways I didn't expect. Thank you to my supervisor, Colin Dalton, for the patience, the guidance, and for believing in this work. A special thank you also to Dylan Finch and Kazim Haider for always being there whenever I had questions, no matter how big or small. Your willingness to help shaped so much of this work. 2️⃣ My capstone team's hard work on NeuroStent, a minimally invasive endovascular neural interface, was recognized with Gold 🥇 at the Capstone Fair. To my teammates, Sara Mah, Celine Yeung, Brandon Fong, Jessica Tran, and Lujaina Eldelebshany, thank you for the late nights, the problem-solving, and for making this one of the most meaningful experiences of my degree. I could not have asked for a better team. A huge thank you as well to Julien Rimok, Aaron Phillips and the RESTORE Network for Spinal Cord Injury for your guidance and support throughout the project. Your insights and encouragement helped us push this work further than we thought possible. 3️⃣ I received my Iron Ring, a meaningful reminder of the responsibility that comes with this profession ⚙️ It is a symbol I will carry with me into every project, every decision, and every person my work touches, and I hope to live up to what it represents. 4️⃣ And lastly, I was honoured to receive The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) Ivan Finley Leadership Award. Leadership has been such a defining part of my time at UCalgary, and this recognition means more than I can put into words. One of the major roles was being Co-President of the Biomedical Engineering Students'​ Society alongside Celine Yeung, whose partnership, drive, and friendship made the experience what it was. And to the rest of our BMESS team, thank you for the energy, ideas, and dedication you brought to everything we built together. None of this would have been possible without my parents. Their dedication and quiet belief in me have carried me through every step of this journey. Thank you for everything you have done so that I could be here. To my professors, mentors, friends, and everyone who pushed me, picked me up, or simply showed up, thank you. This degree is as much yours as it is mine 🎓