Lisa Lazareck

Name: Lisa Lazareck

Nationality: Canadian

Job Title: Postgraduate (PhD) Student

Organization:  University of Oxford

Location:  Oxford, United Kingdom

Work Description: I study sleep apnoea and investigate breathing-disordered sleep quantification using the electroencephalogram (EEG) and respiratory signals.

Personal Interests:  My personal interests include traveling, volunteering, theatre, art, reading, dancing, food and music.

Current IEEE Volunteer Position/s: IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Coordinator (2006-present), IEEE EMBS past Student Representative (2004-2005)

How did IEEE find you?  My undergraduate university (University of Manitoba, Canada) has a very active IEEE Student Chapter and I joined as a student.

Describe something that you did as a volunteer that you are proud of.

At the 28th Annual International Conference of the EMBS held in New York City, NY, USA in September 2006, I organized the first ever EMBS-GOLD Networking Reception. The continuing goal of GOLD is to find out what students need from their Societies at this particular stage of their careers and how their Societies can in turn offer additional value of membership.  The purpose of the joint EMBS-GOLD Reception was to establish, in an informal networking environment, what exactly these transitioning members need, want and must-have from the EMB Society.  The Reception was a success, with over 75 attendees, and will be hosted again at the next EMBS Conference in Lyon, France in August 2007.

How has IEEE nurture you as a person?  The IEEE endeavors to support both the student and the young professional.  I feel that, as my needs have changed over the years, IEEE has been an ever-changing resource for me to utilize.

How has IEEE prepared you for your workplace?  The IEEE has helped me develop my soft skills - such as leadership, team building and communication.  I feel that my confidence in organizing events and public speaking have greatly improved since I began volunteering for the organization.

What do you like most about volunteering with IEEE?  I have met some wonderful, hard-working, and energetic people through the IEEE!  It has been an honor to collaborate with so many talented and enthusiastic volunteers and staff.  Also, I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world with the IEEE - from Shanghai, China to San Francisco, USA.

What wouldn't be possible for you, if you hadn't volunteered for IEEE?  If I hadn't volunteered for the IEEE, I would not have been asked to audition for a role as host of a television program for the Discovery Channel!  The program's researchers found me through my volunteer work with the IEEE-EMBS, and I eventually won the role on the TV special!

What do you find unique about IEEE?  IEEE is a truly global network and is most highly respected for its professionalism.  I also find that IEEE volunteers have a high level of commitment to the organization and its societies.

Why did you continue volunteering?  With every year of continued volunteering, I learn something new - whether it is a new development within IEEE or a program that IEEE already provides which may be of some use.  I also happen to really enjoy working with the researchers, professionals, and leaders of the engineering communities around the world, and maintaining these networks over the years.

Does volunteering help you to achieve your aspirations?  Volunteering helps me keep in touch with the biomedical and electrical engineering field and community, which is of the utmost importance to me.