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 offered at my high school.

 

I visited Pittsburgh for the first time in 2014, when Pittsburgh hosted the USA Karate National Championships. I immediately grew fond of the city. 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 started working 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, spinal cord injury, or limb loss. ​

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

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