As a Neural Engineer, I work with neural prosthetics, spinal cord stimulation, and electrophysiological recordings to develop an intra-cortical brain-computer interface. This work is continually fulfilling because it is an opportunity to learn a great deal about basic neural encoding principles in the sensorimotor loop, as well as a promising method to restore sensory and motor function to patients with spinal cord injuries.
I defended my PhD in Computation and Neural Systems at Caltech in April 2023, advised by Dr. Richard Andersen. My thesis work focused on how primary somatosensory cortex encodes tactile sensations and is modulated by visual information, as well as how tactile sensations elicited by intra-cortical microstimulation are integrated into a multi-sensory conscious experience.
Before beginning my PhD, I worked as a lab manager for Dr. Bevil Conway at the National Institutes of Health, studying the neuroscience of color vision. My research there combined neuroimaging (MEG; MRI) and electrophysiology to examine how color spaces are represented in the brain and their correspondence to real-life image statistics.
I graduated from Wellesley College in 2016 with a B.A. in Neuroscience, focusing on computation and cognitive neuroscience. My undergraduate thesis work, with Dr. Damian Stanley and Dr. Ralph Adolphs, focused on using reinforcement learning to model how people learn about the beliefs and intentions of others, and how this process differs in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, crafting, and trying new foods.