MAKER·BUILDER·CONTRIBUTOR
I weaponize adversity — engineering solutions from every challenge my family has endured.
view my projects →About Me
It started with a simple question I couldn’t put down: who does the system leave behind — and what would it take to reach them?
Founder of OncoSense, a sub-$600 AI ultrasound honoured with CYSF Gold, CWSF Bronze, and a national innovation prize. Across seven engineered systems — from a brain-controlled wheelchair to an on-device melanoma classifier — I've been named a Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national finalist, an Intel AI Global Impact Festival finalist, and one of Avenue Calgary's Top 20 Under 20. Every build starts from the same instinct: find who a system leaves out, then engineer around the gap.
Beyond the bench, I lead the programming division of a competitive FRC robotics team, sit on the youth advisory council of a pediatric hospital, and have personally taught 60+ children to code, free of charge.
MAKER REEL
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Experience / Leadership
University of Calgary
CurrentEngineering an assistive communication headset for nonverbal patients, embedded in a University of Calgary lab alongside PhD researchers in software and electrical engineering.
Details →FRC Team 9277
3 seasonsArchitected a Jetson Orin Nano vision system with CUDA acceleration, quadrupling the robot's camera array and eliminating autonomous-mode localization failures.
Details →CAYAC
4 yearsAlberta Children's Hospital. Co-chairs the advisory council and drove a system-level shift toward patient data transparency for young people.
Details →Mayor's Youth Council
2025–Youth Central. Designs city-wide initiatives connecting Calgary youth to career and employment pathways.
Details →Young Canadians Parliament
2025–26Represents youth interests in federal-level advocacy and policy development.
Details →Royal Canadian Air Cadets
ActiveCommands cadet parade formations, including the annual Remembrance Day contingent, and leads squadron training.
Details →Calgary Public Library
2022–Designed and delivered 30+ free coding and math workshops, personally mentoring 60+ children in foundational computer science.
Details →Portfolio Projects
Seven engineered systems since Grade 6 — three with national or international recognition. Select a card for the full technical record.
OncoSense
A handheld ultrasound engineered to screen for three cancers at a fraction of clinical cost — custom PCB, 3D-printed enclosure, on-device AI — built to reach villages no hospital ever will.
Open case file →HEROChair
A wheelchair that moves where the user looks — fusing HoloLens eye-tracking with EEG signal processing to restore independent mobility for quadriplegic users.
Open case file →The Skin Screener
An on-device melanoma classifier that screens suspicious moles from a phone camera at 94% accuracy, with zero data ever leaving the phone.
Open case file →Object & Distance Reader
Fuses real-time computer vision with ultrasonic ranging to narrate the physical world aloud, engineered for independent navigation.
Open case file →Gun Detection Alert System
A vision system that detects a firearm in a live camera feed and triggers automated police notification, cutting response time in a school-safety emergency.
Open case file →Communication Headset
An assistive communication headset built inside a university research lab, in collaboration with U of C engineering PhD candidates.
Open case file →Robotic Arm
The build that started it all — a mechanical arm engineered at eleven, and the gold medal that turned curiosity into a discipline.
Open case file →Awards & Recognition
Twenty-plus honours across nine years — provincial, national and international. Select a card for the citation and evidence behind each one.
Intel® AI Global Impact Festival
Global finalist selection, 2026
Details →Digital Citizenship Leadership Award
STEM Fellowship & Cisco, vice-regal patronage
Details →FRC Impact Award
FIRST’s highest team honour, 2026
Details →Toastmasters Youth Leadership Award
For mentoring 15 youth
Details →Top 20 Under 20, Class of 2026
Avenue Calgary, citywide honour for engineering impact
Details →FIRST Leadership Award
Finalist, Canadian Pacific Regional, 2026
Details →Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
National 2nd + Fan Favourite, 2025
Details →Canada-Wide Science Fair
National bronze medals, two consecutive years
Details →CYSF Gold Medals
Five gold medals, five distinct engineered systems
Details →Future Founders Scholarship
Calgary's startup hub, for OncoSense
Details →Ingenious+ Prairie Region Winner
National innovation prize for OncoSense
Details →APEGA Science Olympics
Provincial engineering competition, silver
Details →Youth of Distinction
Citywide innovation finalist, 2024
Details →Entrance Scholarships
$8,000 combined, Western University & Mount Allison
Details →Where the record starts
Nine years of continuous recognition, starting here
Details →Sponsor awards
Pfizer Oncology, Spartan Controls, Buckley Family, Schulich, Terry Allen
Details →Community & Service
Silver AI Initiative
Founded and runs seminars, printed booklets and hands-on training that equip seniors to navigate the AI era with confidence.
Details →Free coding workshops
Designed and taught 30+ free workshops at the Calgary Public Library, reaching 60+ children.
Details →Volunteer hours
150+ hours across eight organizations — Youth Central, Platform Calgary, senior homes, Stampede breakfasts, GlobalFest and environmental cleanups.
Details →Media & Press
Top 20 Under 20: Class of 2026
Citywide recognition from Avenue Magazine and Calgary YMCA, naming Joel among the city's twenty most accomplished young leaders.
Calgary team regional finalist
National broadcast coverage of HEROChair's regional-finalist run.
Watch →Winners announcement
Official national result: 2nd Place and Fan Favourite, out of teams nationwide.
Details →National Finals Presentation
Samsung Canada, Toronto
FIRST Leadership Award
Canadian Pacific Regional, 2026
Top 20 Under 20, Class of 2026
Citywide recognition for leadership and innovation across engineering and community work.
Details →Publications
Scintix: AI-Driven Radiotherapy
An independent technical analysis of RefleXion's biology-guided radiotherapy system, written for a general engineering audience.
Read →Endorsements
Dr. David Barzilai
Letter recognizing dedication to precision health and longevity.
Interaxon Inc.
Official recognition of student work built on Muse technology.
Lisa Davis
National winners announcement and recognition of student innovation.
Darrol Baker
Recommendation regarding AI passion and future potential.
Newsletter
The Ethics of BCI Data
Generative AI in School
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Engineering progress, research notes and upcoming milestones.