Since graduating from the electrical and biomedical engineering program at McMaster in 2020, Tina Mahmoudi’s career path has been shaped by interdisciplinary research, hands-on product development and early startup experience.
Now, as Lead Engineer at Asima Health, a female-founded startup developing rapid cancer screening technology, Mahmoudi is leading the technical vision behind Asima’s core technology.
Her current role bridges technical design, software architecture, and biomedical innovation, with a focus on building tools that could one day transform the way cancer is diagnosed.
Mahmoudi remains connected to McMaster Engineering by staying in touch with student groups she was once part of and engaging in alumni opportunities. She values seeing how the initiatives she contributed to have evolved and continues to advocate for more inclusive and representative spaces within engineering.
In recognition of International Women in Engineering Day, Mahmoudi reflects on the importance of mentorship, female leadership and representation within STEM, as well as her advice for the next generation of engineers.
Here’s our Q&A with Tina:
Can you tell us about the work you do with Asima Health?
Asima Health is a cancer screening and diagnostics startup, and I currently work there as the lead engineer. We’re developing a rapid cancer screening test based on electrical impedance signals, which is right up my alley, because it ties together all areas of my background, which are electrical, computational, and biomedical engineering.
I drive all of the engineering behind our product, including PCB design, software design and architecture, biomedical product design and planning. I’ve been really happy that I get to integrate everything I’ve studied into something with the potential for real-world impact.
How did your experiences at McMaster prepare you for the work you’re doing now?
When I was in this program, I think McMaster was the first to pioneer the intersection of biomedical engineering with another field and the initial one was electrical engineering. Having that foundation in electrical and computer engineering and then seeing how it could apply to biomedical concepts, was really essential. If I had done just one of those areas alone, I don’t think I would’ve gotten the same value. That intersection gave me the edge.
Did co-op or extracurriculars play a role in your undergraduate journey?
My placements were mostly focused on research. I did a lot of biomedical research during my time at Mac, and it was all within the biomedical and engineering intersection. That’s where I wanted to stay in my career, in the research and development area. I also worked in the mechanical engineering department in a lab doing cardiovascular applications, and a lot of what I did there, I still use to this day.
Extracurriculars were really important too. I don’t think engineering is something you can do alone – you need that network and support from your peers. So, something I would definitely recommend is to venture outside of your field and try different things.
Who were some of your mentors, the people you leaned on throughout your undergrad?
A lot of my mentors were faculty I was taught by or worked with – especially female faculty, including people like Dr. Zahra Motamed.
Being a woman in engineering, it’s easy to feel a bit disorientated, a lot of engineers feel imposter syndrome, just because of the nature of their work. It’s natural to not always know the answer and to have to figure it out. But when you add in being in a very male-dominated field, it kind of adds to that layer of, “What am I doing here? and “Do I belong here?” so, by being able to lean on women who had navigated the same field, and succeeded, was really important to me.
I do try to support women in the field where I can and work in spaces where women are accepted and are in leadership positions. It helps lessen that imposter syndrome and gives you the example that, ok, other women are present and doing this, so I belong here too.
Asima is a female-founded startup. Did this influence your decision to join the team?
Absolutely. My first startup was also female-founded, and that founder later became an angel investor for this company. That kind of women supporting women in the field really mattered to me. I do try to support women in the field where I can and work in spaces where women are accepted and are in leadership positions. It helps lessen that imposter syndrome and gives you the example that, ok, other women are present and doing this, so I belong here too.
Why is promoting diversity in engineering so important?
Ultimately, as engineers, it’s our job to create and solve problems for the public benefit. To do that properly and holistically, you need a diverse set of views. People with a variety of lived experiences, whether that’s women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ community, they all bring different perspectives. Without that, engineering solutions only get tailored toward one population or one status quo, and that’s not holistic engineering.
What excites you about working in a startup environment?
Startups are very hands-on. You’re at the forefront and have direct communication with the CEO. You’re developing the product vision in real-time, and that’s a really nice feeling, to see something go from unusable to a final product in someone’s hands, knowing you contributed to that pipeline.
You wear many hats, you get more responsibility than in a bigger company, and you get to try different things. You get exposure to a lot of things you might not have realized you’d enjoy.
What have been some key milestones in your career so far?
I first started through an internship, and I think internships are valuable for gaining experience and making connections you can use later on. That internship became a full-time role. Then I got promoted from a junior computational and biomedical engineer to Lead Engineer. That change meant I had more of a say in product development, and I wasn’t just supporting solutions, I was designing them.
What advice would you give to engineering students or recent grads?
Don’t doubt your capabilities. It’s easy to do that, especially when the stakes are high, but your job isn’t to know the answer, it’s to figure it out. You have all the tools to do that. Trust that you’ll get there.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. A good mentor is extremely valuable.
Why is it important to stay connected to McMaster?
Any alumni opportunity that comes up, I try to take it. I’m still in touch with some of the extracurricular communities I was part of, even outside of engineering. It’s nice to see what things have grown into over the years, to remind yourself, the stuff I did 5-10 years ago, those seeds I planted, actually turned into something.
Universities are special like that. They’re full of brilliant people trying to solve important problems. Staying connected to that network is really valuable.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I just wanted to emphasize, just for the girls that we’re out here. You can do it. We exist.
Alumni Blueprints is a Q&A series that highlights the journeys of exceptional McMaster Engineering alumni. Discover how they built their careers, from joining student clubs and teams to seizing co-op opportunities that ignited their passions during their undergraduate years. Our alumni share their unique stories and insights, offering a blueprint for success in their respective fields. Want to share your blueprint for success? Contact the Alumni Team at engalum@mcmaster.ca.