Luka Morita
Edmonton
Summary
Graduate researcher with five years of experience in advanced manufacturing, specializing in design for additive manufacturing and polymer material testing. Demonstrates strong project management skills, adept at leading complex initiatives both individually and collaboratively. Proficient in CAD, finite element analysis (FEA), and mechanical testing, contributing to successful AM hardware development. Aims to leverage expertise to drive innovation in the manufacturing sector.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Designer
Morita Lighting
Edmonton
05.2024 - Current
- Currently providing additive manufacturing design and production services for a local artist to develop a large-scale lighting installation for a community festival.
- Designed, manufactured, and sold original 3D-printed lamp products, with a focus on craftsmanship and community connection.
- Built and maintained a local brand presence, managing marketing, customer relations, and direct sales.
- Oversaw all aspects of production, from prototyping to final product delivery, ensuring high quality, and attention to detail.
Graduate Research Assistant
UofA IMPACT Lab
Edmonton
05.2022 - Current
- Lead the construction and development of an additive manufacturing integrated thermal draw tower for manufacturing micro-structured smart fiber devices, a critical manufacturing component in a multi-institution $24.5 million NFRF grant.
- Published work in the leading journal, Additive Manufacturing, on a novel valving mechanism for improved polymer flow control in advanced multi-material FGF printers.
- Programmed G-code toolpath editing scripts in MATLAB and Python to optimize experimental FDM processes.
- Collaborated with ZiprPrint, an AM spin-off company from the lab, as a 3D printing technologist. Work featured in CMC Microsystems' success story.
Additive Manufacturing Research Assistant
University of Alberta National Institute of Nanotechnology
Edmonton
09.2021 - 12.2021
- Lead the development of the MAMMAMIA (Modular Assembly for Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing for Innovative Applications), a 3D printing system that combined filament and pellet based extrusion for use with liquid metal co-axial extrusion, ultra-elastic elastomers, and recycled polymers as part of a multimillion dollar research grant.
- Was responsible all aspects of AM systems, including customization of firmware, g-code, hot end hardware, gantry, print parameters.
- Co-authored IEEE publication on variable stiffness soft robotic actuators printed from recyclable materials. Responsible for manufacturing actuators and designing tensile strength tests.
Additive Manufacturing Research Assistant
University of Alberta National Institute for Nanotechnology
Edmonton
09.2020 - 12.2020
- Optimized extrusion process for producing recycled filament from shredded HDPE and PP.
- Developed specialized build plate substrate and optimized process parameters to enable FDM printing of polyolefins with minimal warping.
- Designed and machined and 3D printed parts in CAD to aid in short-run and one-off production of customized products and components.
- Presented research on recycled material additive manufacturing at ISSET Space Exploration Symposium and Adhesion Society Conference.
Advanced Composites Research Assistant
University of Alberta Advanced Composite Materials Lab
Edmonton
09.2019 - 01.2020
- Operated industrial filament winding and testing equipment to develop novel polymer-fiberglass composite pipes
- Performed structural analysis of pipe samples using standardized stress, fatigue, and acoustic imaging tests
- Created electrical continuity monitoring system, enabling failure detection during fatigue testing.
Design Intern
RWTH Aachen University
Aachen
05.2019 - 07.2019
- Redesigned motorcycle components for aluminum additive manufacturing, achieved 22% weight reduction using generative topology optimization.
- Presented results at 2019 UROP Research Symposium
- Completed German language course with A2 proficiency certification
Education
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alberta
Alberta, Canada09-2025
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alberta
Edmonton04.2022
Skills
- Materials Characterization and Mechanical Testing (Tensile Testing, Thermal Stability, Printability)
- Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM)
- Material Optimization for AM Systems
- Hardware development and process optimization
- CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Rhino, Meshmixer)
- Programming and Scripting (MATLAB, Python, G-code)
- Self-Directed Research and Project Management
- Technical Communication (Research Presentation, Microsoft Office Suite)
Accomplishments
Best Poster Presentation Award, Smart Textiles Workshop, IEEE Soft Robotics Conference (Robosoft 2025)
Presented work on thermal drawing of additively manufactured preforms for smart fiber fabrication.
Best Speaker Award, Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium (FEGRS 2023)
Presented work on needle valves for pellet based additive manufacturing.
Guest Speaker at Alberta Beekeepers Commission Annual Conference (2022)
Speaker for design and prototyping of a solar powered hive watering system
Deans Research Award (2022)
Capillary ratcheting simulation software development
Deans Research Award (2020)
G-code programming for 3 and 4 axis cylindrical wire arc additive manufacturing
Timeline
Founder & Designer
Morita Lighting
05.2024 - Current
Graduate Research Assistant
UofA IMPACT Lab
05.2022 - Current
Additive Manufacturing Research Assistant
University of Alberta National Institute of Nanotechnology
09.2021 - 12.2021
Additive Manufacturing Research Assistant
University of Alberta National Institute for Nanotechnology
09.2020 - 12.2020
Advanced Composites Research Assistant
University of Alberta Advanced Composite Materials Lab
09.2019 - 01.2020
Design Intern
RWTH Aachen University
05.2019 - 07.2019
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alberta
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alberta
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