Experiences

Completed my undergraduate education at UC Berkeley in Molecular and Cell Biology, and my life journey in research and innovation started in Gazzaley Lab at UC San Francisco. I worked with Dr. Jyoti Mishra to understand human aging and auditory distractions (e.g., the cocktail party effect). Because Dr. Mishra collaborated with Posit Science Inc., I got to experience the full range of basic-to-translational research, bringing the finding of Cognitive Neuroscience into software intervention that can train at home. With my growing curiosity about human behavior and cognition, I completed a Master's Degree in Cognitive Psychology and Experimental Psychology, looking at the fundamental elements of decision-making processes with Dr. Ezequiel Morsella. In the program, I mastered the art of experimental design from the best. Unsatisfied with my understanding of human research, I join Dr. Scott Frey in the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Lab at Washington University in St. Louis for my Ph.D. study. With Dr. Scott Frey, we look at neuroplasticity after chronic amputation and the longitudinal effect on individuals with hand transplants. 

 In 2016, I determined that my interests lie in multidiscipline translational research. I wanted to harness the current understanding of Neuroscience, Biomechanics, and Psychology to improve the quality of life for individuals with medical difficulties. So, I joined Enabling Mobility Lab with Dr. Kerri Morgan. Our research focuses on improving the wheelchair propulsion technique and developing wearable tracking systems using machine learning algorithms to improve rehabilitation outcomes. This innovation has been documented in our article in Assistive Technology Journal. Since graduation in 2019, my research goal has been to deliver a better quality of life through science and innovation.

In 2017, I started an innovation project, Therabotics. Our goal is to improve how individuals use prostheses and orthoses. With an AI system controlling the robotic or exoskeleton devices, we aim to make these devices easy to use. 

In 2018, I launched another innovation, using wearable sensors and machine learning. This innovation received NIDILRR small business innovation grant, working with Dr. Alex Wong, Dr. Igor Zwir, and PlatformSTL Inc. We completed the project in 2019. We developed a software prototype that can analyze post-stroke wellbeings with wearable sensors. Using my rehabilitation and data science knowledge, I designed a system to collect behavioral data quickly, which clinicians can use. The result is a working MVP that is currently further developed. This innovation is documented in the international journal of Environment and Public Health.


In 2021, I joined Dr. Arun Jayaraman at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, leading a project team investigating the effect of changing nursing practice on sleep during inpatient stays (n = 400). This clinical trial is a collaboration between Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern University. I am in charge of designing an AI system to detect sleep stages using small wearable ECG, PPG, and temperature sensors and leading research coordinators and assistants in mining electronic health records, outcome, fidelity, and maintenance of wearable sensors.