ravi sekerWelcome to my collection of interesting tidbits and reflective blogs of my time here in London! These are all things that caught my attention which were a little bit, and sometimes a lot, different from life back in America. Archives
August 2018
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Staying on the grind6/29/2018 I wish I had all the time in the world to explore London and all its secrets. However, the main reason of my immigration was work. I am currently employed by Imperial College’s Department of Surgery and Cancer, working as a research assistant. Based in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, I work with researchers in the SiMMS group (Simulation and Modelling in Medicine and Surgery). These research projects range from all kinds of medical fields; from the creation of virtual reality surgery experiences for training future medical professionals to motion detection technology that helps patients complete physiotherapy exercises in an interactive game-like atmosphere. The project I do the most work with is the DiRECT project (Digital Rectal Examination Haptics Training System) with my supervisor, Luc Marechal. This project involves simulating the muscle motion in the rectum to differentiate between healthy/unhealthy peristaltic movement. Essentially, this is simulated by creating a cast of the gluteal area with an anus and a rectum and giving the users the ability to feel the squeezing motion of the rectum. Currently, doctors in training practice and learn about how to diagnose this when they have a case presented them as an attendant as opposed to during their learning phase. This will train doctors to better identify diseases such as colorectal cancer.
My work mostly involves designing parts and supports for the mechanism using 3D Design software, printing parts on 3D printers, generating code for the software behind the robotics and doing research on different elastic material to build the body with and their respective tensile strengths. Our office is set up on the research floor of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and we work with other researchers working on their separate projects. There is a very calm yet vibrant atmosphere surrounding our workplace as we frequently like to update each other on our projects, seek advice for our projects or even talk endlessly about who was going to win the World Cup. There is also a work laboratory with all the tools I need to test ideas, ranging from electrical components to power tools. It also includes state of the art projects currently being worked on and some very unique pieces of technology I had never known existed. I will admit we have spent a few days messing around with all the virtual reality devices available to us. All these elements factor into making this a very productive and enjoyable work environment. This is also a very different work environment from my previous internships. I have worked as a reliability engineer at a chemical plant previously and I fully expected a complete turn in workplace culture. My work at Emery involved more day-to-day tasks, a lot of field work and a busy office space. Work in research in London involves the opposite; long-term projects, more desk work and a lot more peace and quiet. I have enjoyed the various traditions British workplaces offer like making tea for the office, later workdays and grabbing a pint of beer after a long days work.
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