Since graduating from Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (QASMT) in 2023, Lana Wang has been pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. She is currently taking a gap year from her studies while undertaking a year-long internship as a Lighting Research and Development Engineer at Tesla. She will return to Imperial next year to complete the final two years of her integrated bachelor's and master's degree.Lana's passion for engineering was sparked during her time at QASMT through opportunities such as the International Science Schools Festival (ISSF) and the Biotech Challenge. Those experiences inspired her to explore the broad possibilities within engineering and laid the foundation for the diverse projects she has pursued at university.
At Imperial College London, Lana has immersed herself in robotics, Formula Student and medical device development. She currently serves as Chair of the Surgical Robotics Society, leading projects at the intersection of engineering and medicine, including the development of an endoscopic robotic arm and tendon-driven snake robots.
Alongside her leadership role, Lana has embraced opportunities to combine research, innovation and community impact. As a participant in the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, she researched the trade-offs between sensitivity and specificity in post-cancer surveillance using Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs), while also undertaking leadership projects focused on improving radiation safety in Chinese township hospitals.
Her passion for innovation also led her to compete in the Imperial Hackspace Hackstarter Innovation Challenge. Working with a team of students, Lana helped develop a solution for nocturnal leg cramps in older adults using sensor-integrated smart textiles and an adaptive algorithm to identify the most effective mitigation strategy. The project placed third in the competition, and the team is now exploring funding opportunities to continue its development.
Reflecting on her time at QASMT, Lana credits the International Baccalaureate programme with equipping her with the critical thinking, time management and problem-solving skills that continue to support her at university and in industry.
"The IB at SMT was challenging but incredibly rewarding. It taught me how to think critically, manage my time, and approach problems from multiple angles, skills I use every day at university."
Lana also speaks highly of the supportive learning environment and dedicated teachers who encouraged her curiosity and gave her the confidence to pursue a highly competitive field.
"The supportive community and passionate teachers at SMT really shaped my curiosity and gave me the confidence to pursue a competitive field like engineering. I'm so grateful for that foundation."
Looking ahead, Lana is excited to return to Imperial College London to complete her Mechanical Engineering degree before continuing a career focused on engineering innovation and emerging technologies.