Profiles

Mr Kyle Nelson
Engineering (Mechatronics and Robotics)
Dean’s Scholarship Winner

A DEAKIN University scholarship is helping former Colac resident Kyle Nelson to follow his dream of working in the haptics field, which is revolutionising medical training and surgery.

Kyle Nelson, 19, won a prestigious Dean’s Scholarship after he was named dux of Trinity College in Colac.  He is now in the second year of the Engineering (Mechatronics and Robotics) course and wants to pursue his interest in haptics, which involves using software programs and special equipment to create virtual scenarios that allow the user to ‘feel’ objects.  The technology’s uses range from remote surgery and medical training to manufacturing.

Mr Nelson was introduced to haptics technology when he attended Deakin University’s Open Day and visited the state-of-the-art haptics lab.  He had already decided that engineering suited his skills and interests and the haptics lab cemented his decision to study at Deakin.

“I was offered a place at the University of Sydney, but I chose to come to Deakin because I’d seen the haptics lab on open days and I was interested in that area,” he said.  “I think robotics or haptics would be great careers because they are fields that are always changing and developing.”

Mr Nelson said he was also attracted to haptics by the real-life applications of the technology in medicine.

“I’m really interested in haptics in medicine because that is something that would help people,” he said.

Mr Nelson is one of a select group of applicants who gain a position in the Dean’s Scholars Program annually.  The program provides students with a scholarship, extra opportunities for work placements and mentoring from academics including haptics expert Professor Saeid Nahavandi.

Since beginning his course he has enjoyed living on-campus at Waurn Ponds.

“It’s good to be so close to classes and lecturers and a lot of the people on residence come from a similar rural background to me,” he said.

The Dean’s Scholars Program will enable Mr Nelson to undertake an internship with industry in the field.  He said he hoped to be based with a manufacturing company that uses robotics to develop his knowledge and experience in the field.

Associate Professor Dineli Mather, Associate Dean (Development) within the Faculty of Science and Technology said the Dean’s Scholars Program provided valuable opportunities for students like Mr Nelson to achieve their goals.