My name is Zach Kushnir. I was born in Syracuse, NY and went to Jamesville-Dewitt High School. In high school, I found my passion for engineering through introductory engineering classes were I was taught how design and build cool things. I was captivated by the process of transforming creative ideas into tangible solutions and pushing the limits of what I could design and construct.

 

I visited Pittsburgh for the first time in 2014, when Pittsburgh hosted the USA Karate National Championships. I immediately grew fond of the city for its possibilities and opportunities in technology. After high school, I started my bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout my undergraduate years at Pitt, I completed three co-op rotations at Acutronic, worked as a research assistant for three years, and as a teaching assistant for the first-year engineering program for four years. As my degree progressed, my interests focused towards robotics leading me to starting my masters at Carnegie Mellon University. 

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At Carnegie Mellon University, I continued as a researcher at the NeuroMechatronics Lab with Dr. Weber. I was tasked with designing and fabricating a hand exoskeleton to improve motor function for people after stroke and spinal cord injury. ​Simultaneously, I have been taking classes spanning a variety of areas in robotics to grow my understanding of the field as a whole.  ​

While attending classes, I also managed to continue my training in karate and compete at the highest level all over the United States and abroad. 

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