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Has your degree at La Trobe prepared you well for the workplace?

My degrees at La Trobe weren't just about text book learning and memorisation - our Professors actually expected us to become real problem solvers by applying our knowledge to the real world. I was well equipped with knowledge, skills and confidence to embark on solving a number of new and unique problems with enthusiasm and vigour. The laboratories in particular were very hands on and not just dry theoretical exercises - besides making them interesting it also made them useful to solve problems all over the place. I picked up a diverse range of skills including half a dozen programming languages, circuit design and analysis techniques, intelligent system design, machine vision and project management.

Tell us a little about your work history?

During my course I completed two 3-month work placements, one at Telstra (Network Design and Construction Group) and Tectonica (a highly specialised defence and security engineering contractor). Both of these placements were great to integrate my skills and knowledge into useful real world projects. They gave me a real insight into engineering professional practice, involved meeting with clients, some travel (I was even sent to Perth twice) and got paid a decent wage - who could ask for more?

After I graduated I was offered 5 different, interesting and diverse jobs, but of these chose to work as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) designer in the broadband division of NEC Australia. This time was an excellent learning experience and a great opportunity to use the skills and knowledge from my course (La Trobe Electronic Engineering has a specialisation on high quality FPGA design) to put it into practice designing next generation GPON optical fibre network high speed routers and switches. After 12 months at NEC the allure of further study brought me back again to La Trobe to complete a PhD.

My PhD integrated concepts of field robotics and machine vision to use a mobile robot with specialised vision sensors to search for explosives underneath vehicles. Whilst completing this (and since) I took a very active role of teaching within the Electronic Engineering Department lecturing subjects including Engineering Practice, Microcontrollers and Digital Design, Communications Networks and Advanced Robotics. Having completed my PhD in 2012 I continued on as a lecturer and researcher within the Department of Electronic Engineering at La Trobe. Some of my work highlights in this time include setting up a new Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering degree, being very involved in school outreach programs including designing several microcontroller based school engagement programs (LaserTag, LaserBot, Heart Rate monitors) and developing a number of new subjects from scratch for the new course.

What are things you enjoy most about your job?

I love applying my mind (and engineering skills) to solve problems. It's also hard to beat a job where they actually pay to you play around with the latest technology and build robots - what's not to love?

What advice can you offer to current students?

The hard work really does pay off - it is reasonably difficult to get a first class honours but employers do sit up and take notice. Besides putting in the hard yards in becoming technically competent you should also develop some of the 'soft skills' in good communicating and particularly oral communication - this can really set you apart from other engineers who may be just as technically competent. One way to get experience in this is joining students associations like the engineering society or the IEEE which will allow you to practice these skills and also to network with your peers. And finally if you are in one of my lectures it doesn't hurt to laugh at my jokes.

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