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nilgurel[at]meta(dot)com

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I am a biosensor research scientist at Reality Labs Meta. For my postdoctoral training, I worked with Jeffrey Ardell, Olujimi Ajijola, and Kalyanam Shivkumar at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (UCLA Neurocardiology Research Center and UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Centeras an NRSA T32 Postdoctoral Fellow and later transitioned my own grant supported by the National Science Foundation ASEE. I worked on multiple projects on sudden cardiac death and bioelectronic control of ventricular arrhythmias. During my Ph.D., I was working with Omer T. Inan as a member of Inan Research Lab and Doug Bremner from Emory School of Medicine. My Ph.D. focused on noninvasive sensing and neuromodulation for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I developed tools and signal processing algorithms to study noninvasive neuromodulation of stress. During my MS training, I worked on rotational motion estimation in analog and digital domains, inspired by arthropod eyes at the Autonomous Vehicle Lab (now Bio-Inspired Perception and Robotics Lab) at the University of Maryland and US Army Research Laboratory. My advisors were Timothy Horiuchi and Sean Humbert.

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I received my B.Sc. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bogazici University with a minor in Film Studies, my M.Sc. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, and my Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. I also have a minor in Biomedical Engineering.

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I continually collaborate with psychiatrists, radiologists, cardiologists, epidemiologists, and fellows at the Emory School of Medicine & David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. These collaborations entail conducting numerous human subjects trials/preclinical experiments, producing scientific and engineering outcomes that could drive future projects and broaden the impact of my research.

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My research has pragmatic applications in psychiatric disorders, mood and performance improvement, mental wellbeing, cardiovascular disease monitoring, prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis. Broad application areas are cyber-physical systems (CPS), smart and connected health (SCH), Internet of Things (IoT), and novel therapeutics.

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News and Highlights

Dec 9, 2024    Two new book chapters were published: Application of VNS for PTSD and VNS for the Treatment of Heart Failure in book 'Vagus Nerve Stimulation', Elsevier Inc.

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Nov 7, 2024    Check out this article we're quoted: "Using Light to Monitor Blood Pressure and Track Cancer Treatment"

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Oct 29, 2024  Presented at the Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers in Pacific Grove, CA: "Deciphering Cardiac Neural Network Dynamics: From In-Vivo Recordings to Unsupervised Spike Labeling"

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Sep 6, 2024   Our SPIE Photonics West abstract 'Speckle contrast optical spectroscopy improves cuffless blood pressure estimation compared to photoplethysmography' was accepted for presentation on Optical Diagnostics and Sensing XXV: Toward Point-of-Care Diagnostics, part of BiOS.

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Aug 26, 2024  Check out our preprint on SCOS-based BP Estimation!

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Jul 15-19, 2024  Attending IEEE EMBC 2024 in Orlando, FL.

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Jul 30, 2024  Kesisen Yollar Dernegi'nin kariyer sohbetlerine konuk oldum, sorulan sorular icin tesekkur ederim! 'Ä°laçsız Olarak Travmatik Olaylardan Ä°yileÅŸebilmek Mümkün mü?'

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Mar 18, 2024  SPIE BiOS Conference slides here

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Jan 27, 2024  Attending SPIE Photonics West and SPIE AR/VR/MR 2024 in San Francisco. Ariane Garrett from Boston University will present our research:"Preliminary investigation of non-invasive blood pressure estimation using speckle contrast optical spectroscopy".

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Nov 30, 2023  I will serve as an Associate Editor at IEEE EMBC 2024.

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Nov 4, 2023  Giving a talk at the IEEE WIE Washington DC! [link]

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Oct 28, 2023  IEEE EMBS Ege Universitesi'ne PTSD uzerine konusmami dinledikleri icin tesekkur ederim :)

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Oct 16, 2023  Ariane Garrett from Boston University is presenting our work 'Preliminary Investigation on Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Estimation Using Speckle Contrast Optical Spectroscopy' in ECI in Portugal!

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Oct 3, 2023  Book chapter in Vagus Nerve Stimulation (Springer Pres., pp 157-184): 'Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Trauma Spectrum Psychiatric Disorders'

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Sep 21, 2023  New pub: Ghrelin levels with tcVNS: 'TcVNS modulates stress-induced plasma ghrelin levels: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial'

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Aug 3, 2023  Cited in National Geographic! :) 'A partial solution for migraines and PTSD? This approach offers hope.'

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Jul 15, 2023  Hot off the press: Longitudinal application of tcVNS improved attention, declarative, and working memory in PTSD [paper]

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May 22, 2023  Quoted in Psychology Today: 'How Does Vagus Nerve Stimulation Reduce PTSD Symptoms?'

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Mar 27, 2023  Check out our new paper using speckle contrast optical spectroscopy! [DOI]

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Feb 27, 2023  Check out this article we're quoted! 'Stress levels are up and wearable devices may be the solution.'

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Jan 28 - Feb 2, 2023 Attending SPIE Photonics West/XR and BIOS Expo 2023 in San Francisco! Ariane Garrett (Boston University) is presenting our collaborative work!

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Jan 10, 2023 Who would know monitoring in-vivo cardiac control during long-term baseline states would provide unique signatures about chronic heart failure? My postdoc paper is out at eLife! [link]

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Dec 7, 2022 We are looking for multiple PhD research interns at Reality Labs Biosensors Team! Check out these job postings: [Biosensing Algorithms] [Sensor Hardware] [Sensor Data Analysis]

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Nov 29, 2022 Attending a PhD career panel hosted by Michigan State University BME's Bige Deniz Unluturk to answer questions [flyer]

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Nov 15, 2022 New paper! "Data-Driven Approach for Automatic Detection of Aortic Valve Opening: B-point Detection from Impedance Cardiogram" with 189 subjects! [DOI[Toolbox]

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Jul 11-15, 2022 Attending IEEE EMBC 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. Very excited!

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Apr 11, 2022 New review paper in Frontiers in Physiology: "Studying Cardiac Neural Network Dynamics: Challenges and Opportunities for Scientific Computing" [DOI]

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Mar 3, 2022 Research from Georgia Tech and Emory University Leads to FDA Breakthrough Designation for New PTSD Treatment

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Feb 22, 2022 New paper in press: "Validation of a new impedance cardiography analysis algorithm for clinical classification of stress states" [DOI]

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Jan 24, 2022 Our Emory-Georgia Tech study received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation :)

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Jan 16, 2022 New review paper: "Stress-related dysautonomias and neurocardiology-based treatment approaches" [DOI]

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Dec 5, 2021 New paper in press: "Scalable and reversible axonal neuromodulation of the sympathetic chain for cardiac control" [DOI]

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Oct 1, 2021 Check out our new preprint! [DOI]

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Aug 10, 2021 So happy to announce that my proposal has received an NSF ASEE Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. This is my first grant that bridges engineering and science!

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Aug 3, 2021 IEEE BHI 2021 paper "Transcutaneous Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation Lengthens Exhalation in the Context of Traumatic Stress" received the 3rd Prize Best Paper Award!!!

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July 15, 2021 Full paper "Transcutaneous Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation Inhibits the Reciprocal of the Pulse Transit Time's Responses to Traumatic Stress in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" first authored by Asim Gazi accepted to the International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (IEEE EMBC)! 

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July 11, 2021 New paper in press in Psychosomatic Medicine! "Non-Invasive Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation Alters Brain Activity During Traumatic Stress in Individuals with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" [DOI]

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July 7, 2021 New paper in press on longitudinal (3-months) use of tcVNS in PTSD! "Transcutaneous Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Pilot Study of Effects on PTSD Symptoms and Interleukin-6 Response to Stress" accepted to the Journal of Affective Disorders! [DOI]

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June 13, 2021 Full paper "Transcutaneous Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation Lengthens Exhalation in the Context of Traumatic Stress" accepted to the IEEE-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical and Health Informatics (IEEE BHI), first authored by Asim Gazi!

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May 26-27, 2021 Attending the Virtual Nature Conference on Technologies for Neuroengineering.

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Mar 8, 2021 [Turkish] 8 Mart Dünya Emekçi Kadınlar Günümüz umutla dolu yarınlar getirsin. [Güçlü kadınlar anlatıyor]

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Jan 11, 2021 Selected as one of Caltech's 2021 Young Investigators in Engineering and Applied Science!  

Join my talk at Caltech on April 15, 4-5PM PT, so excited! [Info]

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DEC 8, 2020 Thank you Georgia Tech for the feature in ECE Fall 2020 Pandemic Graduates! [news]

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OCT 15, 2020 Another new paper in press! "Transcutaneous Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation Reduces Sympathetic Responses to Stress in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham Controlled Trial", Neurobiology of Stress. [DOI]

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OCT 15, 2020 New paper in press! "Effect of Transcutaneous Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation on the Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) Response to Stress: A Randomized, Sham Controlled, Double Blind Pilot Study", Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology. [DOI]

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SEP 6, 2020 New review paper in press! "Application of Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Stress-Related
Psychiatric Disorders", Journal of Personalized Medicine. [DOI]

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AUG 26, 2020 New paper in press! "Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation Blocks Stress-Induced Activation of Interleukin-6 and Interferon-γ in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial", Brain, Behavior, Immunity - Health. [DOI]

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AUG 12, 2020 I defended my PhD! Many thanks to family, friends, mentors, mentees, collaborators, patients, reviewers, everybody who supported me along the way.

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JUL 28, 2020 My PhD Dissertation Defense "Novel Technologies for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" will take place on August 12th, 2PM ET. Feel free to join! [Details]

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JUL 26, 2020 New paper in press! "Investigating Digital Cardiovascular Biomarker Responses to Transcutaneous Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation: State-Space Modeling, Prediction, and Simulation", JMIR mHealth and uHealth. [DOI]

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JUN 6, 2020 New paper in press! "Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation Decreases Brain Activity During Trauma Scripts", Brain Stimulation. [DOI]

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MAY 20, 2020 I was a virtual guest for Turkey's Bahcesehir University Faculty of Medicine, we talked about post-COVID-19 health tech, streamed live. / [Turkish] Bugün BahçeÅŸehir Üniversitesi'nin COVID-19 ile ilgili online seminerinin konuÄŸuydum. Youtube link [Turkish]: [COVID-19 Sonrası SaÄŸlık Teknolojileri]

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APR 3, 2020 Join us through Zoom for a session in NYC Neuromodulation Online 2020 Conference! You can register for the session "Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation Applied to Stress Management, Opioid Withdrawal, and Neurocognitive Disorders" (April 22, 12PM-2PM ET) via the conference website.

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MAR 31, 2020 Congratulations to Asim Gazi for winning the NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP!!!!

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MAR 30, 2020 Doug got funding from the VA Merit Review Program to study nVNS in veterans with co-morbid mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and PTSD based on the data we have on nVNS in PTSD so far! (PI: JD Bremner)

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MAR 17, 2020 See our new paper: "Automatic Detection of Target Engagement in Transcutaneous Cervical Nerve Stimulation for Traumatic Stress Triggers", IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health Informatics (IEEE JBHI). [DOI]

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FEB 28, 2020  Check out our review article on PTSD: "Confederates in the Attic: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Cardiovascular Disease, and the Return of Soldier's Heart", The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. [DOI]

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FEB 26, 2020  I am very excited to share that our Emory, Georgia Tech, and CUNY teams got funded with an NIH NIDA UG3/UH3 grant: "Noninvasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Opioid Use Disorders". UG3 Phase: $460k, UH3 Phase: $3.9M, PIs: JD Bremner, OT Inan.

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DEC 1, 2019  Proud to be highlighted in the bi-annual IEEE Women in Engineering Magazine! Check out the article.

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NOV 22, 2019  Presented at the National Institutes of Mental Health, Non-invasive Neuromodulation Unit.

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NOV 15-20, 2019  Upcoming travel to Washington, DC for AMIA'19 Annual Symposium. I will give an oral presentation under session "Timing in Clinical Informatics" on November 18! [info]

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OCT 22, 2019  Check out our Society for Neuroscience abstract!

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OCT 2-5, 2019  Attending the Nexus NextProf Future Faculty Workshop at Georgia Tech.

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AUG 27, 2019  Attending ECE Rush at Georgia Tech to talk about our research and what we do. New students, undecided folks, transfer students, come say hi!

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AUG 8, 2019   New paper in press in Brain Stimulation! "Quantifying Acute Physiological Biomarkers of Transcutaneous Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation in the Context of Psychological Stress". [DOI]

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AUG 1, 2019   AMIA's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) committee selected our paper to be certified as offering MOC-II credit to board-certified clinical informaticians. In other words, it was determined to be highly relevant to practicing clinical informaticians. They will be offered credit for learning about our work.

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JUL 31, 2019   I was selected to participate in the 2019 NextProf Future Faculty Workshop sponsored by University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley, and Georgia Tech! [news]

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JUN 14, 2019   Our full paper on timing considerations for nVNS in clinical studies was accepted to AMIA 2019 Annual Symposium as oral presentation!

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JUN 14-21, 2019   I will give two hands-on wearable electronics classes to 39 high school students of Georgia as a part of H.O.T. Days @ Georgia Tech Day Camp. Let the t-shirts glow!

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JUN 6, 2019   New paper in press in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease! “Confederates in the Attic: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Cardiovascular Disease, and the Return of Soldier’s Heart”

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MAY 22, 2019   Our poster presented and first authored by Asim Gazi got the Runner-up Best Poster Award at IEEE BHI!

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MAY 19, 2019   We are presenting two posters at IEEE BHI & BSN in Chicago, IL!

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MAY 8, 2019     New paper with Emory School of Medicine and Rollins School of Public Health:  Comparison of autonomic stress reactivity in young healthy versus aging subjects with heart disease. [DOI]

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APR 1-2, 2019   Co-organizing NSF/NIH Digital Clinical Trials Workshop on the NIH main campus, Bethesda, MD.

[info] [brochure & presenter bios]

   

Day 1 VideoCast: [Digital Clinical Trials Workshop: Creating a Vision for the Future, Day 1]

   

Day 2 VideoCast: [Digital Clinical Trials Workshop: Creating a Vision for the Future, Day 2]  

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MAR 22, 2019   Attending iREDEFINE Workshop in conjunction with ECEDHA Conference in Tucson, AZ.

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DEC 19, 2018   Georgia Tech featured our visit to MIT! [link]

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OCT 29, 2018   Attending Rising Stars in EECS Workshop at MIT, Cambridge, MA. [MIT news], [brochure], [my profile]

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OCT 17, 2018   Presenting a live demo of our temperature modulation system at IEEE BIOCAS in Cleveland, OH. [DOI]

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OCT 1, 2018     New paper: Headband to classify mentally stressful tasks. [DOI]

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AUG 23, 2018   Attending Neuromodulation Conference and NANS Summer Series in New York, NY with three abstracts and posters. [DOI 1] [DOI 2] [DOI 3]

Doug Bremner is giving a talk on our work "Non-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation Paired with Stress Exposure in PTSD".

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JUL 26, 2018    Named as one of the Rising Stars in EECS by MIT! [my profile] [news]

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JUL 17, 2018    Attending IEEE EMBC in Honolulu, HI. I will give a talk on our instrumented nest for heartbeat detection from rodents.  Evaluated per reviewer feedback, I was selected Best Paper Finalist in Student Paper Competition -my paper is among Top 15 of the accepted ~1500 proceedings! [DOI] [link] [all finalists]

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MAR 16, 2018  Sponsored by NSF to participate in iREDEFINE Workshop in Monterey, CA, held in conjunction with ECEDHA Conference. Looking forward to attending! [link]

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MAR 4, 2018    Attending IEEE BSN & BHI in Las Vegas, NV. I will give a talk on our noninvasive neuromodulation work in BSN. I received Runner-up Best Paper Award in BSN Best Paper Competition! [DOI] [news]

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DEC 7, 2017    Our poster presented by Jeff won the Best Poster Award at NextFlex Flexible Hybrid Electronics Workshop! [news]

     

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