Meet Monash University’s latest Women in STEMM Student Leaders – Sabrina Meikle
PhD candidate – Electrical and computer systems engineering
Research focus: Improving the resolution of neural implants to restore sight in people with blindness
Sabrina Meikle is a recipient of a 2023 Women in STEMM Student Leader Award. These awards aim to recognise, celebrate and support women students at Monash University who are contributing to innovation in healthcare and medical technologies. MIME spoke to Sabrina upon accepting this award.
What is your chosen degree and what inspired you to pursue this path?
My chosen degree is a PhD specialising in neural implants that are designed to restore vision in individuals with blindness. I have two main sources of inspiration. Firstly, I firmly believe that unravelling the mechanisms by which the brain processes information and replicating these processes can offer solutions to a myriad of challenges people face today, including physical disabilities like blindness and deafness, as well as mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Finding a solution that solves these problems will have a profound positive impact on a global scale.
Secondly, on a more personal note, witnessing the challenges my grandfather faced after losing his sight later in life motivated me to undertake this project. This fuelled my dedication to contribute to groundbreaking research aimed at enhancing the quality of life for individuals affected by visual impairments.
What is your favourite aspect about this STEMM field?
One of my favourite aspects of engineering and biomedicine is that their interdisciplinary combination offers endless opportunities for exploration, creativity, and problem-solving. Together, they possess the capacity to address various issues that diminish quality of life for the most vulnerable through bionic interventions.
Can you elaborate on your contribution to innovation in healthcare and medical technologies?
My research specifically focuses on improving the resolution of intracortical visual prostheses, which can potentially restore sight in people with eye or optic nerve diseases/injuries. The devices work by using a head mounted camera which relays the video feed directly into the brain. An issue with these devices is that we are limited in the number of pixels that we can create across someone's visual field. The key issue is that without a high density of pixels, it becomes exceedingly challenging to generate meaningful images that facilitate normal visual function, just like having a very low-resolution monitor. This meant there was a pressing need to develop a technique capable of increasing pixel resolution without damaging the brain. In response to this challenge, I pioneered a technique called current steering that will allow us to do exactly that – generate more pixels within the prosthetic device, thereby achieving higher resolution without compromising brain tissue. This innovative approach has the potential to significantly enhance the usability of intracortical vision prostheses and substantially improve the quality of life for individuals relying on these implants for sight restoration. Additionally, current steering techniques can even be applied retroactively to benefit those with existing implants.
Can you tell us a little of your leadership experience?
Leadership is a quality I've actively cultivated and deeply value. Throughout my academic journey, I've honed my leadership skills in various interdisciplinary roles. As Vice-Chair of the Women in Engineering Society at Monash, I organised coding workshops, networking events, and showcases to support women in STEMM fields. Additionally, as Treasurer of the Physiology Higher Degree Research Society, I managed finances and organised events to prioritise student camaraderie and mental health, especially during the challenges posed by COVID-19 lockdowns.
In my role as a supervisor, I have mentored and guided aspiring researchers, fostering their growth and success. I have supervised three research students, two of whom earned first-place prizes for their work in brain-machine interfaces, reflecting the positive impact of my leadership style. These students have continued as research assistants and plan to potentially pursue PhDs in our lab.
My leadership also extends beyond Monash to the wider research community; in 2022, I helped organise and run both the Australasian Neuroscience Conference and the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Student Conference. These outreach initiatives not only inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers but also facilitate knowledge exchange within research communities.
The MIME Women in STEMM Student Leader Awards recognise student leadership. What does receiving this award mean to you?
To me, this award holds particular significance in acknowledging the contributions of women who are often underrepresented in STEMM industries. It serves as a source of inspiration, encouraging more women to pursue careers in STEMM and become leaders of the industry despite the challenges they may encounter along the way. Personally speaking, being awarded the MIME Women in STEMM Student Leader Award means a lot to me; it is a validation of the dedication and hard work I have invested in developing my leadership skills and advancing my research capabilities, inspiring me to continue my efforts.
What will the $1,000 cash prize to support your studies go towards?
The funds from this award are being used to support me during the assessment and revision process of my thesis in the months leading up to the conferral of my PhD.
What are you most looking forward to in regard to the MIME networking opportunities afforded to you due to receiving this award?
I am looking forward to meeting like-minded, interdisciplinary women who are at the forefront of medical technology development in both academia and industry.
Why do you think awards like this are important for Women in STEMM?
Awards like this play a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in STEMM. They are particularly important at the university level, serving as a source of encouragement where women are often at the beginning of their careers.
What is your advice for women in STEMM or those thinking about a career in STEMM?
Like every discipline, STEMM needs diverse perspectives! So, my advice is to follow your passion – if you love problem-solving and have a technical mindset, don’t let the stereotypes around STEMM intimidate you because the field truly needs individuals like you.