Staff

Emma is going into her fifth year of Civil Engineering at McMaster. Emma has always been fascinated by architecture and city planning and that is why she chose to go into Civil Engineering. In her career, she hopes to be able to travel while designing and building unique buildings across the world! As the Director of Venture, Emma is so excited to get to share the exciting world of engineering, science and technology with all of you!

Matthew Sordo is a third year computer science student at McMaster and the director for LEAP. He loves engineering because it allows you to create anything from nothing. He loves animals, especially his dog and in his free time he enjoys creating his own programs, watching football with his friends, and reading (especially ASOIAF). This summer he hopes to pass on his knowledge not only in programming, but in all other aspects of science and engineering to anyone who is passionate about learning.

Brooklyn is in her fourth year of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. Brooklyn hopes to enter into a career in Biomedical Engineering working to create new medical technologies. When Brooklyn is not in school, she likes to spend time outside doing things like hiking, biking, and playing sports.

Julee is entering her third year of Biotechnology at McMaster University. She decided to peruse this program because she wanted to explore how biology and technology can overlap and interact. She is very interested in the many ways technology can impact the body to benefit human health. Outside of her interests in science and engineering, she also enjoys dancing and swimming. Her passion for STEM subjects began early with inspiring teachers and strong leaders in her childhood. She hopes to instill the same inspiration for science and engineering in the campers here at Venture.

Mahnoor is in her 3rd year of Software Engineering at McMaster University. She is passionate about programming, software design and game development. Her passion and love for STEM encourages her to teach coding and promote education in youth. She hopes to make a positive influence by creating solutions through software development to better the world for everyone.

Felix just finished his fourth year of Chemical Engineering and Management. He has had a passion for science since grade school, where he dreamed of being a mad scientist doing crazy experiments (mainly involving fire). Unfortunately, he realized that “mad scientist” wasn’t an official job title, and had to find a new, slightly more realistic, dream to follow. Luckily, he was introduced to the wonderful world of chemical engineering, full of distillation, oxidation and process optimization, and immediately fell in love with it. His passions include fishing, hunting, camping and good old rock and roll. He is super excited to get this summer started!!!

Erin is entering her fourth year of Engineering Physics and Society and will be working as the Assistant Director of LEAP this summer. She is pursuing a minor in sustainability and is passionate about clean energy systems and creating positive environmental change. This summer she is looking forward to seeing the many new innovations created by students and building awesome design projects.

Matthew is going in to his final year of engineering physics and society.  He is incredibly interested in photonics, robotics, and nanotechnologies.  Matt is pursuing the society stream because he is incredibly passionate about using his knowledge in engineering and technology to improve the living conditions of people all around the globe!  While pursuing a minor in astronomy, he is on the rocketry team at McMaster, so feel free to come up to him and discuss rockets any time you see him!

Sophie just completed her third year of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University. This summer, she is thrilled to be one of the instructors for the Chemical and Materials Engineering stream at LEAP Academy. Sophie is very interested in her studies involving engineering process design and looks forward to inspiring students to learn and apply similar topics during fun and exciting labs. In her free time Sophie enjoys playing hockey, listening to music and spending time outdoors.

Sandun is in his 4th year of Biotechnology at McMaster University. What he finds most interesting about his program is studying the genetic material that makes up all of us! This summer he is the Multimedia Coordinator for Venture and LEAP which allows him to blend his interests of digital media and STEM education.

Emil is going into his fourth year of Materials Engineering. He is an instructor for the Chemical & Materials Engineering program. Emil enjoys baking tasty sourdough bread, long distance running, film photography, and going on hikes/camping adventures! Emil is very passionate about music and the technology that goes into the construction of musical instruments such as electric and acoustic guitars. He is an overall pretty radical dude!

Maggie is going into her third year at McMaster in the Chemical and Bioengineering program. She was inspired to pursue this program after attending the Bioengineering program at LEAP Academy as a student. She loved participating in the experiments and projects, as well as the inclusive community created at McMaster. During her free time, Maggie enjoys swimming, rock climbing, and skydiving. She is looking forward to all the exciting lab experiments scheduled for this summer!

Dziugas is going into his 3rd year of Electrical Engineering & Society at McMaster. He has a passion for discovering the endless possibilities that can be created through a combination of circuits and coding. His fascination for discovering more about the world lead him to take lots of fascinating electives and he can’t wait to take more. He loves writing songs for the McMaster Engineering Musical, reading books, playing sports, and biking wherever he goes.

Jessica is going into her 4th year of Mechanical Engineering & Management. She learns all about how machines move and the business side of engineering. Outside of engineering, she loves using her artistic mind to make graphic designs and drawings. She was always inspired and encouraged to tinker and learn how things work by teachers and can't wait to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Kabishan is a Software Engineering student at McMaster University. He has a strong belief in the ‘power to the user’ adage, which enables him to pursue Software Engineering. He wishes for those who consume and yield technology to be able to enjoy its benefits without restrictions. Kabishan envisions a future in which biomedical technologies would have made a successful integration with humans. He will achieve his vision through his contributions in software development. In his spare time, he enjoys programming, tinkering with novel technologies, and making music.

Kaitlin is a third year Biotechnology student at McMaster University. She chose Biotechnology due to a love of science and engineering, along with a fascination of genetics. In the future she hopes to use her knowledge of Biotechnology to help developing countries through the introduction of Golden Rice™, and other food products; providing affordable and sustainable food sources for all. Outside of school Kaitlin is passionate about community service, photography, reading and going on adventures. She looks forward to a great summer!

Alice just graduated from her degree in Mechanical Engineering and Society with a minor in Social Psychology. She will be instructing Civil and Mechanical stream for LEAP Academy and looks forward to having a fun and interactive summer with her students. In her down time, she enjoys getting lost in a captivating novel, creating abstract artworks and walking the fine line between art and science through creative design.

Zahra has just finished up her third year in Mechanical Engineering and Management. She is teaching the Mechanical and Civil stream this summer and looks forward to meeting all of you! Since high school, Zahra has had a strong interest in mechanics, 3D modelling and designing, and is now enjoying her time at McMaster pursuing these passions. Her free time is often filled with hiking, GoT, petting zoos, and adrenaline-seeking activities.

Nick is a third year Software Engineering and Management student at McMaster University. Nick's passion for software and engineering was sparked when he first learned to code at summer camps as a kid. In the future, he would be interested in working with operating systems or cybersecurity! As the Software Curriculum coordinator at venture, Nick hopes to design projects that will inspire youth to pursue Engineering and get them stoked about coding, software, and STEM in general! He can't wait for another awesome summer at Venture and hopes to see you there!

Nathan Brown is a 4th year Computer Science student at McMaster University. Nathan is a passionate programmer, and is always working on building a new project. He’s an enthusiastic weightlifter and squash player, with plans to compete in powerlifting in the future. This summer, he aims to share his passion for computer science and programming with all the students at LEAP this summer.

John is going into his 3rd year of Mechatronics Engineering at McMaster. He plans to develop  the technology of the future and enjoys creating robots of his own. In his free time, John plays video games and plays hockey.

Bri is a 4th year student in Engineering Physics & Society at McMaster, and is excited to be the Curriculum Coordinator for Computers and Technology camps this summer. Bri chose Engineering Physics because the program allows you to explore fundamental principles of advanced technologies and apply them to the large interdisciplinary problems that society is facing. In the future, Bri intends to pursue a career in clean energy generation and to continue playing hockey and going hiking.     

 Prathmesh Shetty is going into his 3rd year of Mechatronics Engineering Co-Op at McMaster University and is one of the instructors for the Engineering Physics and Mechatronics stream along with Skylar. Throughout his high school years, Prathmesh was always excited by how things work together, whether that be how different players work together in a tactical game to how different components work together to get machines working. He is excited to see how different solutions can be devised for one problem. In spare time, Prathmesh is a passionate gamer, so come by and talk to him about the gaming scene!

Skylar is going into her third year of Engineering Physics at McMaster University where she is currently instructing the Engineering Physics & Mechatronics LEAP Program along with Prathmesh. This summer Skylar is beyond excited to learn loads and do nifty projects with her students. Skylar is passionate about a wide variety of fields in physics like photonics and nanotechnology and outside of physics like astrobiology.

Lauryn just finished her 2nd year of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering. She hopes to one day combine her Mechanical and Biomedical experiences to work with patients and develop prosthetics. In her free time, Lauryn likes to figure skate and paint, and is super excited for a great summer with Venture!

Ernest is in his second year of Computer Engineering and Management. In the future, he plans to work with researchers to improve computer architecture and processing to make faster, smaller devices. Aside from technology, he loves to garden and volunteer at city parks. You should ask him about his plant collection this summer!

Edwin is entering his third year of Software Engineering and Management at McMaster University and is one of the Computer Science and Software Instructors at LEAP Academy for 2019. His other interests include watching movies, listening to music and going out for food with friends. He can’t wait inspire students in the field of engineering through our exciting projects and having lots of fun!

Flavio is a 5th year Biotechnology student at McMaster University. His inspiration to pursue engineering and science came from educational TV shows like David Suzuki’s “The Nature of Things”. The ultimate goal is to build a stronger community by inspiring youth to pursue their education. As the Engineering and Science Curriculum Coordinator for Venture, he hopes to teach campers that the design and application of technology can lead to endless fun and limitless possibilities.  

Mackenzie just completed her first year engineering at McMaster University and is teaching the Computer Science & Software Engineering Stream at LEAP Academy. Over the last five years she has gone from writing simple “Hello World” applications to larger client based programs, databases, websites and algorithmic applications. During this time she has been taught by many different instructors who used various learning styles which allowed her to learn how to not only teach herself computer science but successfully teach others as well. This summer she is excited to share her skills and passion for computer science with you all and show you all that anyone and everyone can learn computer science and have fun doing it.

Zofia is in her 2nd year of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. She is very interested in working with mechanics in the body, such as prosthetics and implants, to improve the quality of life of others. Her favourite project from university so far has been using computer aided design to create a hip implant. In her free time she loves to read books and play guitar. Zofia is looking forward to a great summer at Venture!

Shelby is a future microbiologist, going into her third year of Biotechnology at McMaster University. This is one of the unique programs in the faculty of engineering that allows her to excel in a lab based setting. She has a passion for manipulating bacterial cultures and is excited to share her passions for all things STEM!

Megan is going into her second year of Engineering Physics at McMaster. She really enjoys building circuits and is especially interested in studying nuclear power generation. Aside from engineering, Megan loves reading, hiking outdoors, and swimming and can’t wait to share her passions for science and engineering this summer at Venture.

Anna is a 3rd year Mechanical Engineering student at McMaster. She hopes to pursue a career in her field preferably in the automotive sector. She appreciates Mechanical Engineering principles and enjoys applying her knowledge through technical teams. She is very passionate about increasing youth engagement in STEM fields and promoting Engineering to everyone.

Laura is a student in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at McMaster and is an instructor for the Biomedical & Bioengineering LEAP stream this summer. Laura is passionate about biomedical engineering as she likes to help others. She enjoys camping and exploring new places in her spare time. She is excited to see all the projects that will be developed by the instructors this summer!

Santiago has just completed a year-long co-op and is going into his last year of Biotechnology. His areas of interest include microbiology, genetics, and biopharmaceuticals as well as studying the area of business and project management. Santiago will be one of the instructors for the Biomedical & Bioengineering LEAP stream. He’s excited to meet many new faces over the summer and perform dissections, work with microorganism, and design biomedical assistive devices. In his free time, Santiago likes to listen to podcasts, play video games, eat ice cream, and find a new restaurant to eat at.

Nicole just completed her fourth year in Honours Chemistry at McMaster University and is working as a Science 101 Instructor at LEAP Academy this summer. She is passionate about the relationship between the fields of chemistry and psychology, specifically, drug research in the mental health field. She is very excited to meet many people this summer and work on awesome science projects together! In her spare time she likes to travel around the world and watch netflix.

Clare is in her second year of Mechanical and Management Engineering at McMaster University. She enjoys using her creativity to design and implement new ideas to help solve world wide problems. Clare loves working with technology and hopes to learn more programming languages during her university degree to help her pursue a career in robotics. Outside of school Clare loves to paint and play sports! Clare is super excited to meet the campers coming to Venture this summer!

Matt just finished his 2nd year of Computer Engineering at McMaster. Ever since he was young, Matt has always been passionate about computers, video game consoles and the inner workings that drive them. When he isn't in school, he loves biking, hanging out with friends, playing chess, and video games. When he gets out of school, he wants to be on the cutting edge of computer hardware development. Matt is really excited to share his experience with Venture this summer!

Yousuf is fourth year student studying chemical biology and an instructor of the Science 101 program. Yousuf is very interested in the overlap between chemistry and medicine: including medicinal chemistry, biomaterials design, and antibody therapies. He very much looking forward to sharing his excitement in chemistry and biology with future Science 101 enrollees.

Nick has just finished his first of BTech Automotive and Vehicle Engineering Technology. Being a student with a learning disability, Nick is an example to other students who want to pursue engineering with learning disabilities, that it is possible to achieve success. With his passion for science and engineering since he was young. He is looks forward to having the opportunity pass on the knowledge he has gained to the next great engineers well teach the BTech stream here at LEAP. After completion of his BTech degree, Nick hopes to pursue a job in either the Automotive industry or in the Aerospace industry.

Ridhwan is going into his 3rd year of Software Engineering at McMaster University. He was introduced to programming in the first year of university and fell in love with the endless possibilities software can create. Among his eternal love for video games, he hopes to work with one of the companies that created his favorite video games during his childhood. Outside of school, Ridhwan enjoys playing basketball whenever he has some spare time. He’s incredibly ecstatic about sharing his love for software and video games with you this summer and looks forward to sharing his passion with the campers!

Sarah is going into her 3rd year of Mechanical Engineering at McMaster University. She chose mechanical because she is really interested in prosthetics and learning about how we can design devices to help people move and perform tasks easier. Outside of School she loves swimming, drawing and hiking. She’s really excited to share her passion of science and engineering with you this summer and hopes to help campers discover and design something new!

Jack is an Automation Engineering Technology student in the B-Tech program at McMaster university. He has spent years working with youth at summer camps and mentoring high-school robotics teams, hoping to apply this knowledge to his role as an instructor for the B-Tech 101 stream within LEAP Academy. He enjoys cooking and comics and practices archery in his spare time.

Lauren is in her 3rd year of Chemical and Biomedical engineering. She loves chemistry, and the possibilities that come from integrating engineering and health sciences. She is fascinated with stem cell research and hopes to one day work with artificial tissues and organs. In her free time, she likes to go to the gym and watch TV. Lauren cannot wait to share her passion and knowledge with youth in STEM!

Matt is a second year Mechanical and Management Engineering student at McMaster University. He loves math and physics and has a passion for innovation and ingenuity. Matt is fun and enthusiastic, he is fascinated by cars and planes and wishes to one day help design the next generation of automotives. Besides being an engineering student, Matt loves to play soccer, go hiking, and swim.

Jack will be going into his third year of Computer Engineering and Management at McMaster University, and will be instructing the Engineering 101 stream this summer at LEAP. He is interested in programming and computer technology, as well as sports like hockey and skiing. This summer he is looking forward to making new friends and passing on his enthusiasm for all things engineering.

Laurice Junio is one of LEAP’s instructors for the Engineering 101 stream. She has loved chemistry and mathematics since a very young age, and decided to apply this passion into her program at McMaster University: Chemical and Bioengineering. Here, she fell in love with chemical engineering with all the problem solving skills that she continuously applies through different projects. In her free time, you can catch her on the volleyball courts, googling new restaurants to try, or busting out a dance move in the corner. She is looking forward to applying her various experiences from within and outside of school to a zealous group of students.

Emilie is going into her third year of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering. She always enjoyed science and math in high school and this is what encouraged her to pursue engineering at McMaster. Emilie chose the electrical stream because she wanted to be able to combine both software and hardware in her projects. She is pursuing biomedical engineering as well because of her interest in designing healthcare solutions. This summer Emilie is most looking forward to working with students in the Electrical and Computer Engineering stream of LEAP and watching them create amazing projects!

Adi is going into her second year of Engineering at McMaster University. She hopes to go into Chemical Engineering and use her degree to work on water treatment systems in order to conserve water. She loves getting involved with engineering events, and is passionate about creating an inclusive environment in McMaster Engineering, as well as showing campers how exciting STEM can be!

Matthew is going into his second year of Engineering at McMaster University and is eager to begin teaching Venture campers the value of STEM. He has a passion for software design and loves exercising creativity to improve user experience in any program that he designs. His goal for the summer is to help campers see the endless possibilities of coding and science.

Roba just completed his fourth year of Computer Engineering at McMaster and will be teaching the Electrical & Computer Engineering stream alongside Emilie. While learning how everything in the world around us is driven by scientific discoveries and engineering design, he quickly found his interests, and zeroed in on digital systems as his focal point. He hopes to help campers find their passions and learn all about the opportunities STEM has to offer as well as reshape some of the misconceptions regarding who is equipped for this field. He is excited to get started in helping students discover and learn about how things inside the classroom impact the world out of it, and help change the narrative surrounding diversity in STEM. Aside from academics he enjoys playing and watching basketball, and trying new and locally roasted coffee.

Laura is going into her 3rd year of Mechatronics Engineering and Management at McMaster University. In the future, she hopes to use her passion for programming and 3D design to work in the space industry focusing on robotics. Outside of school, Laura likes playing sports and is on the varsity water polo team.

Arrun is going into his third year of Software Engineering at McMaster University. Arrun chose to go into Software Engineering because he loves solving problems through coding and hopes to work on building more easily achievable autonomous vehicles one day in the future. Outside of school, he likes reading science fiction and trying new coding projects to improve his programming skills