People

Dr. Zheng is an Associate Professor in Surgery and holds the Endowed Research Chair in Surgical Simulation position in the Department of Surgery of the University of Alberta. He collaborates with surgeons, engineers, clinical educators, and psychologists to develop simulators and evaluate educational outcomes of simulation-based programs. His long-term goal is to prompt the use of simulation in surgery for improving care quality and patient safety.

Yao Zhang obtained her Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2017, followed by a Master of Science in Financial Engineering from New York University in 2019. Currently, she is pursuing a doctoral degree in Surgery with a focus on Surgical Simulation at the University of Alberta. Her research primarily aims to develop objective methods for evaluating the performance of surgical teams and understanding their cognitive dynamics. Her projects involve utilizing cutting-edge technologies, including eye-tracking, motion tracking, and near-infrared spectroscopy. These are integrated with sophisticated data analysis techniques and machine learning algorithms to record and interpret the behaviors of surgeons engaged in collaborative tasks.

Yuzhang Li earned his Bachelor's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2016 and a Master's degree from the University of Maryland in 2018, both in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering. In 2018, he obtained his FAA private pilot license. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD. in Mechanical Engineering, also working in the Department of Surgery at the University of Alberta. His research includes assessing fine motor skills, workload, and ergonomic risks under in-motion and multi-sensory interaction environments, developing haptic acuity assessments and training simulations, and exploring the potential to train and improve mental rotation ability.

Dr. Yun Wu is a PhD student at the Surgical Simulation Research Lab in the Department of Surgery at the University of Alberta, where his research focuses on enhancing surgical skill training through cognitive load management and the integration of advanced technologies in surgical education. He holds an MD from the University of South China and an MSc in Surgery from Central South University. From 2018 to 2021, he completed a neurosurgery residency at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Yun also serves as a Discovery Learning and Surgical Skills Instructor in the MD program at the University of Alberta. He brings prior research experience in clinical data analysis and molecular biology, and has a strong background in surgical simulation model design and human factors data analysis—including eye tracking, motion capture, and cognitive assessment. His ongoing projects involve the application of virtual reality in surgical training.

Originally from Tehran, Iran, Ghazal Hashemi moved to Calgary when she was nine. She pursued her undergraduate degree in General Sciences with a Chemistry Minor and her Master of Biomedical Technology at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, in 2015 and 2018 respectively. She has been a part of the SSRL since January 2023 where she works as a research assistant and coordinator. Thus far, she has contributed to a range of projects, including Video-Based Coaching for micro-laryngoscopy, Perioperative Interprofessional Education to enhance team performance, and studying surgical team collaboration through brain activity synchronization. Outside of work, Ghazal enjoys traveling, practicing hot yoga, hiking, volunteering with youth, painting, and, of course, exploring new food spots. She even share her culinary adventures on her "foodie" Instagram page!

Farzad Aghazadeh Shabestari was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. He earned both his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Alberta, focusing on objective surgical skill assessment for enhancing surgical training. In his free time, he enjoys working out, biking, exploring nature, listening to podcasts, and spending time with friends and family.