As a Fulbright scholar at Western Sydney University, Kyra Lee ’24 spends her days developing brain-inspired technologies that could one day reshape healthcare and robotics.
At the university’s International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems, Lee is part of a research team designing neuromorphic systems — computing technologies modeled after the human brain. These bio-inspired tools could improve machine learning, enhance robotic responsiveness, and expand how artificial intelligence supports patient care.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be working at the intersection of neuroscience and technology,” Lee says. “Neuromorphic systems are about replicating how the brain works, and that has huge implications for how we solve real-world problems.”
Lee, who majored in mathematics, neuroscience, and exercise science at Puget Sound, says her undergraduate experiences prepared her to think across disciplines. Her path to global research began on campus with the RISE (Reflective Immersive Sophomore Experience) program and took shape during a competitive internship with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, where she contributed to research on peripheral neuropathy — a condition that affects astronauts andmillions of people on Earth. She also volunteered at MultiCare Health System in Tacoma and received the Hurley Community Service Scholarship, using it to explore adaptive fitness programming.
“Each of those experiences helped me ask better questions and see how science can improve lives,” she says.
In Sydney, Lee is embracing both academic collaboration and cultural exploration — connecting with fellow scholars, engaging with Indigenous communities, and even traveling to Tasmania and Canberra to witness the Southern Lights. After completing her Fulbright year, Lee will join the MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Massachusetts to continue her work in applied neuroscience and space medicine.
“Living and working abroad has broadened my perspective,” she says. “But what stays constant is my desire to do science that centers on people and makes a difference in their health and lives.”
From campus labs to global research networks, Lee continues to pursue science with purpose — pushing boundaries and building bridges between disciplines, countries and communities.
