Breaking barriers in STEM: Deanna Hood Named 2023 QUT Outstanding Young Alumnus

Deanna's journey at QUT began at the remarkable age of 15, displaying her innate passion and talent for mathematics and electrical engineering. By the time she graduated in 2011 at the age of 20, she had already earned degrees in both fields, setting the stage for her extraordinary career.

Her journey didn't stop at graduation; instead, it expanded globally. Deanna embarked on a journey of international exploration and academic growth, earning a Master's degree in robotics while living in four different countries. Her quest for knowledge and expertise led her to specialise in robotics, a field that has become her life's work.

Among Deanna's numerous accomplishments, she was named the Engineers Australia 2022 Young Professional Engineer of the Year, a testament to her exceptional contributions to the engineering community. Over the past 13 years, she has dedicated her talents to some of the most exciting and impactful applications in the world of engineering.

Deanna's work has left an indelible mark on the world, including:

1. Leadership in KUKA LBR Med Robotics for the Lig "Skin-Printing Robot", advancing the treatment for burns survivors with groundbreaking technology.
2. ROS 2 Development, now used for NASA's VIPER Mission: her contributions have been instrumental in open source robotics worldwide, enhancing the capabilities of robots used in self-driving cars, assistive robots, space exploration, and more.
3. RASTRUM 3D Bioprinter for Cancer Research: supporting cancer researchers with cutting-edge technology to revolutionize cancer research.
4. Co-writer of an Innovative Educational Robot: a robotic partner for children with handwriting difficulties that the children can teach how to write.
5. Low-cost USB Stethoscope for diagnosing pneumonia in children in Mozambique.

Currently, she is the Senior Robotics Engineer at Sydney med-tech startup Vexev, where she works on the Vexev Wave ultrasound scanning robot designed to enhance the treatment for dialysis patients, aiming to make a significant impact on the lives of over half a million dialysis patients in the United States alone.

In her own words, Deanna expresses her passion for engineering and its limitless potential: "What I really love about being a robotics engineer is that I don't have to compromise on my love of maths and technology. I can actually use my skills to help all different parts of society every day there's more code to write and more bugs to fix, which for me I find really exciting."

Deanna's dedication to using technology to benefit society has touched countless lives. She continues to inspire future engineers and make significant strides in the field of robotics. As a 2023 QUT Outstanding Young Alumnus, her achievements are celebrated, and her legacy is a source of pride for QUT and motivation for young women aspiring to be leaders in STEM.