OUR TEAM

We are a dedicated team of engineers, designers, and volunteers based in Victoria, Canada, at the University of Victoria. The Victoria Hand Project (VHP) is a not-for-profit organization, with a mission to provide upper-limb prosthesis to persons in the developing world.

EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

Nick Dechev, Ph.D, P.Eng

Executive Director

Nigel Livingston, Ph.D

ADVISORY MEMBERS

Justine Trubey

Andreas Bastian

ENGINEERING DESIGN TEAM

Nicholas Whyte, B.Eng, M.Eng

Projects: Harness, VC200, Trans-humeral System, Children's Hand

Derek Bell, B. Eng.

Projects: Transhumeral System, Custom Sockets, Children's Hand

Jason Bennett

Projects: Converting LimbForge platform from Ruby on Rails to Java Script.

VOLUNTEER TEAM

NATASHA BANSAL

Natasha is a 4th Year Computer Science student at University of Victoria. She has been volunteering with the project since March 2017. She is involved in Club Foot Brace testing and hand assembly. She plans to pursue a career as a computer scientist for prosthetics. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling and outdoor activities.

ALEX BURDEN, B.ENG

Alex is a recent graduate from UVic's biomedical engineering program. In his time as a volunteer he conducted design iterations on the Victoria Hand's snap-lock wrist and helped with assembly. As an employee at VHP, Alex focused on the documentation of the Victoria Hand, writing 3D printing instructions and assembly manuals for the various hand and socket designs VHP offered at the time. He was also involved in researching painting options to color match the prostheses.

MAGGIE CHAN

Maggie is a fourth year biomedical engineering student at UVic. She worked on making spray painting Victoria Hands possible and assembled hands when needed. This year, she is working on creating a quality assurance procedure for the Victoria Hand and completing a work study position with VHP. In her spare time, Maggie enjoys music, reading, and running.

DELANEY HAUGAN

Delaney is a fourth year Biomedical Engineering student at UVic. Since volunteering with the group, she has helped with device assembly, outreach, and workshops for the project. Volunteering with VHP has helped Delaney realize her career interests in biomechanics and she can often be found around the lab making urethane fingertips or taking a stroll through the Mystic Vale!

ASEES KAUR

Asees Kaur is a 3rd Year Mechanical engineering student, she began volunteering in 2019 and is pursuing part of her co-op term at VHP. Currently she is working on a paper testing the tensile strengths of 3D printed parts under different forms of sterilization. In the past, she has been involved in hand assembly and development of assembly videos. She hopes to pursue a career within the biomedical field upon graduation.

STEPHEN KIOUSSIS

Stephen is a 3rd year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Victoria. He has been involved with hand assembly as well as strength testing and assembly documentation for the Child's Hand.

JOELLE LEJAY, B.ENG

Joelle is a recent UVic electrical engineering graduate. Being able to combine both her engineering and medical interests within a friendly and inclusive environment to help better peoples’ lives is what attracted her to the Victoria Hand Project. Aside from pursuing electrical engineering, she enjoys playing music, traveling and hiking.

ALEXANDRA MALINOWSKI, B.SC

Alexandra recently graduated from the BSc Kinesiology program at the University of Victoria. She began volunteering with the project in September 2016 and started a co-op work term under Dr. Dechev in Summer 2017. She has been involved in hand assembly, development of assembly manuals and videos, grant research and website design. Alexandra has an extensive understanding of biomechanics and human anatomy and plans to one day pursue a career as a certified prosthetist.

EASTON MARTEL

Easton is a third-year biomedical engineering student and has been volunteering with VHP for the past year. He has been involved with assembly and has performed structural durability tests of different infill patterns for the VC200 design.

JAMES NGARA

James has been involved with assembling 3D printed hand parts, 3d scanning and 3D modeling scanned molds in preparation for printing. He has also done paint spraying work for the finished products. James has also assisted with optimizing workflows being used at VHP in regards to 3D designing and sculpting.

James is currently collaborating and working with VHP to launch a pilot project in Kenya. For more of his work, you can see his LinkedIn Profile.

TYLER NIELD

Tyler is a biomedical engineering student who has been volunteering with Victoria Hand project for the past year. Tyler has been involved with assembling hand models and performing structural durability tests of different infill patterns for the VC200 design.

AUSTIN SAWYER

Austin is fourth year biomedical engineering student who has a passion and interest for the innovation of medical devices. Outside our lab, he founded and runs the UVic Biomedical Engineering Design Club. Austin’s initial volunteer work for  VHP, included assembling 3D printed prosthetic hands. Currently he acts as a Strategic Fundraising Advisor Volunteer, focused on creating pitch’s and documentation to approach venture capitalists, and corporate sponsors.

ASHLYNN STEEVES

Ashlynn is a fourth year biomedical engineering student at UVic. She is primarily involved in assembly and outreach and takes on side projects as they arise. In her free time Ashlynn works on personal projects, and tries to get out and enjoy beautiful B.C.. She  hopes to pursue a career in bionics upon graduation.

SINA VALIZADEH, B.ENG

Sina Valizadeh is a recent graduate of the Mechanical Engineering program from the University of Victoria. He has contributed to creating and modifying SolidWorks designs, writing manuals, and assembling systems for amputees, as well as completing a co-op work term for VHP. Sina plans to pursue a career in creating prosthetic and assistive devices for people, and loves to play drums, read, and spend time with friends and family.

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