Nick Dernovsek,
B. Eng (Biomed.)
Lead SolidWorks Designer · PACD Homes
Permanent Part-Time
Biomedical Engineering Researcher · KAT Innovation
Contract Part-Time
Co-Founder · Crown Kombucha Beverages Inc.
Entrepreneurial Startup
Click here to download my resume.
Versatile, hands-on engineering graduate with a diverse range of experience across research & design, entrepreneurship, trades, and leadership. Combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving, adaptability, and a drive to build and create.
Educational Background
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng) · Biomedical Engineering
University of Guelph
Sep 2020 – Apr 2025
Engineering
Biomedical Signal Analysis
Analyzed ECG, EMG, and EEG signals using biomedical signal-processing techniques.
Finite Element Analysis
Used ANSYS FEA to simulate stresses, deformation, and real-world loading conditions.
Biomechanical Engineering Design
Worked with a physiotherapist to design a single-person log roller using biomechanical principles.
Bio-Instrumention Design
Designed and built biomedical instrumentation using electronics, sensors, and signal analysis.
Click here for more information on projects.
Entrepeneurship
Project SOY Plus · Research & Innovation UoG
1st Place, 2024
Developed and pitched a sustainable business concept as part of a competitive entrepreneurship competition.
IgniteLab · Lang School of BusinessBest Pitch Award, 2024
Developed and validated a startup idea through customer discovery, market research, and product validation.
LaunchLab · Lang School of Business
Best Pitch Award, 2025
Advanced a validated startup concept toward launch by developing business, marketing, and go-to-market strategies.
Athletics
Varsity Badminton Team · University of Guelph
2021 – 2025
• Demonstrated strong teamwork and communication on the court.
• Balanced a demanding degree with athletics, attending nearly every practice while maintaining academic commitments.
• Showed long-term commitment and discipline to the sport while developing technical skills, fitness, and competitive experience.
Work Experience
Engineering & Design
Lead SolidWorks Designer · PACD Homes
Permanent Part-Time
July 2025 – Present
• Designed full-scale residential building assemblies using 3D Experience SolidWorks, integrating structural, electrical, plumbing, and architectural systems for construction design.
• Performed collision detection to ensure on-site accuracy and compliance with Ontario Building Code requirements.
• Created renders of assemblies for pre-fabrication customer viewings.
Biomedical Researcher · KAT Innovation
Contract Part-Time
Feb 2024 – Present
• Conducted hands-on lab experiments using ex-vivo porcine bone models to simulate physiological conditions.
• Performed extensive literature reviews to guide experimental design and research analysis.
• Contributed to troubleshooting, technical development, and report writing in a fast-paced startup environment.
Biomedical Engineering Intern · Pocket Clinic
Contract Part-Time
Dec 2024 – Jan 2025
• Designed and modeled medical device components using SolidWorks for a smart injector system.
• Simulated piezoelectric behavior in COMSOL Multiphysics to analyze and refine device performance.
• Iterated designs based on performance analysis and documented findings in technical reports.
Building & Hands-On Work
Renovations Labourer · SBuilt
Contract Part-Time
Jan 2026 – Apr 2026
• Performed demolition and site preparation, safely removing existing structures and preparing spaces for renovations.
• Assisted with construction and installation of decks, pools, carports, and other residential improvements.
• Completed painting, finishing, and detail work, developing practical construction skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities.
Building Labourer · Blue Valley Building
Permanent Part-Time
Jan 2020 – Aug 2020
• Assisted with residential construction across site preparation, material handling, framing, roofing, and concrete work.
• Supported skilled trades while maintaining job-site safety, organization, and cleanliness.
• Developed strong physical endurance, teamwork, practical problem-solving, and hands-on construction skills.
Leadership & Events
Camp Counselor · Camp Celtic
Contract Full-Time
May 2021 – Aug 2024
• Supervised and mentored campers aged 7-17, providing 24-hour care for 3-10 days per session.
• Led and organized sports, water activities, and adventure-based programming for groups of 5-180 participants.
• Oversaw rock climbing and high ropes activities, ensuring adherence to safety protocols.
• Assisted in maintenance and construction projects, including roofing, plumbing, and carpentry.
Volunteering Program Leader · Westcoast Connections
Contract Part-Time
Aug 2023 – Jul 2026
• Led and supervised summer volunteering programs for teens aged 13-17 in Costa Rica the Florida Keys, and Los Angeles.
• Coordinated airport logistics and ensured smooth participant arrivals and departures – as smooth as airports get.
• Participated in conservation efforts such as sea turtle conservation, coral reef restoration, ocean garbage cleanup, and mangrove reforestation.
• Managed healthcare responsibilities, including medication distribution and well-being monitoring.
Projects & Ventures
Crown Kombucha Beverages Inc.
Registed Canadian Corporation, BN 798651832RC0001
Crown Kombucha was a startup venture I founded with my partner, Sam, shortly after graduating from the University of Guelph and completing the John F. Wood LaunchLab program. Through LaunchLab, we gained connections, funding, mentorship, and, most importantly, knowledge. We decided to put what we learned into practice and take our first shot at entrepreneurship.
The idea behind Crown Kombucha came from a problem we noticed among people who chose not to drink alcohol, that going out often meant settling for overly sweet mocktails or non-alcoholic products designed to replicate beer. After surveying more than 200 people across the alcohol and non-alcoholic beverage space, including bar and brewery owners, servers, regular consumers, and members of non-alcoholic Facebook groups, we found a gap in the market. People were looking for something that felt more like an elevated adult drink, without simply trying to imitate alcohol. They agreed that kombucha was a great base for a drink like this. Its natural tanginess, complexity, and fermentation made it ideal for an elevated non-alcoholic drink.
Our first product was a Moscow Mule flavoured kombucha. With less than 5g of sugar per serving, organic ingredients, natural probiotics from kombucha fermentation, and a more complex flavour profile, we were proud of the product we created. Despite this, we quickly learned that developing a good product was only the beginning of building a successful business.
We incorporated as a Canadian corporation and worked through many of the hoops that comes with a beverage company including insurance, food safety, production, and the requirements of selling our product. Eventually, we were ready for our first event, the Guelph General Hospital Hoedown, which was a 150-person charity event supporting the hospital. The response was extremely positive, which gave us the confidence to keep going. We built a website, invested in professional product photography, and began collecting interest from people who wanted to hear from us when our first batch of cans became available.
After more events and people signing up through our website, we reached a decision point: to go all-in on Crown Kombucha or step back and explore what else was out there. Ultimately, we decided to take a step back. After a demanding fourth year of engineering, we both wanted to take some time to travel and pursue experiences we had been putting off. We also realized that, while we loved many aspects of Crown Kombucha, we were increasingly drawn toward building something more technical and engineering-focused.
Crown Kombucha remains a registered business, and we still have much of the capital and infrastructure needed to restart it if we choose to. More importantly, the experience gave us our first real taste of entrepreneurship. We learned how to identify a problem, validate an idea, develop a product, navigate regulations, sell to real customers, and marketing. For now, we’re taking what we learned and looking for the next problem worth solving.
The Quick-Switch Adapter
Fourth Year Capstone Project
For my fourth-year capstone project, some friends from the climbing wall and I wanted to develop something that could give back to a community we cared about. After speaking with experts from Petzl and experienced outdoor route setters, we identified a major problem with outdoor climbing routes – that aging hardware, particularly rusted and corroded bolts, can create serious safety concerns. We connected with members of the bolt removal and re-bolting community to better understand the challenges they face when replacing old hardware.
One specific problem stood out, removing a bolt that has been wedged into rock can be extremely difficult and time-consuming, especially when the bolt was never designed to be removed. Re-bolters often have to switch between using a hammer drill to work the bolt loose and a bolt puller to extract it, often back and forth, multiple times. We called this “the switching dilemma”. Our solution, the Quick-Switch Adapter (QSA), allows the user to quickly switch between these two functions without having to repeatedly change equipment. While this may seem like a small improvement, re-bolters are often suspended on an overhanging cliff, a few fingers on a small hold, and saving time on each bolt can make the difference between completing one route in a day and completing two or three.
Developing the QSA involved a full engineering design process, from identifying and validating a niche problem to testing and prototyping potential solutions. We tested bolt strength using an Instron tensile testing machine, used ANSYS FEA to simulate loading conditions, and physically tested our final design. After developing the prototype, we brought the design back to the re-bolting community for feedback and made the design files open source, allowing others to manufacture, improve, and adapt the design.
The project was a great example of the kind of engineering I enjoy most, finding a real problem within a community I care about, combining hands-on testing with engineering analysis, and creating a practical solution that others can actually use, all while working alongside some of my closest friends from school.
Dynamic Load on a Climbing Carabiner
Finite Element Analysis Final Project
For my FEA final project, I wanted to take something I actually use in my own life and find out what was happening when pushed to its limits. I chose the Black Diamond LiteWire carabiner, and decided to investigate the engineering behind its 24 kN strength rating. I was particularly interested in finding out how much load it could actually withstand before the material began to fail.
I measured and recreated the carabiner in SolidWorks, including modeling the gate as a movable component to better represent its real-world design. I then brought the model into ANSYS, applied boundary conditions and loading scenarios, and used FEA to visualize how stresses developed throughout the carabiner as the load increased.
The results showed that the carabiner could comfortably withstand its rated 24 kN load while remaining below the material’s yield stress. The simulation predicted that yielding would begin at approximately 30 kN. The second image is the wire gate experiencing a 48kN load.
I also performed a mesh convergence study to make sure my FEA results were reliable rather than simply a result of the mesh size. By progressively refining the mesh and comparing the resulting stress values, I was able to identify a mesh density where further refinement produced minimal changes in the results, giving me greater confidence in the accuracy of the simulation.
Contact
Gallery
Since you made it this far, here’s a quick gallery of some of my favourite photos over the past few years. Feel free to ask me about any of them when contacting me, I love sharing stories about my adventures and experiences!
