Work with experts from University of Pittsburgh

Dushani L. Palliyaguru, Ph.D.

Baltimore, MD, Maryland, United States of America

Toxicologist | Aging, Nutrition and Metabolism Research Scientist | Systems Biologist

Education

University of Pittsburgh

Ph.D., Environmental and Occupational Health (Toxicology) / May, 2016

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Clark University

B.A., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mathematics / May, 2009

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America

Experience

National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Translational Gerontology Branch

IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow, K99/R00 Grant Recipient / September, 2018 — Present

-Leading, managing and coordinating large population longitudinal studies within US Federal Government and Industry partnerships - Successfully writing, submitting, and managing grants and manuscripts to ensure continuity of research initiatives -Hiring, mentoring, and supervising research fellows and technicians -Applying epidemiological, machine learning and data science methods to multi-omics data to characterize biomarkers of aging and aging-related diseases -Testing nutritional and pharmacological compounds for lifespan extension, and prevention of chronic diseases (eg. Alzheimer’s)

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology

Postdoctoral Fellow / May, 2016 — September, 2018

Identified a novel urinary biomarker of cruciferous vegetable intake in cancer prevention clinical trials using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry -Led and managed project that showed broccoli-derived sulforaphane prevented breast cancer through altering gene expression and lipidomics profiles

Healthcare Ready

Health Policy Fellow / January, 2017 — January, 2018

-Synthesized data, mined literature and wrote Toolkits/ Issue Brief on “Pharmacy and Emergency Preparedness: A Landscape Analysis”

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

Graduate Student Researcher / August, 2010 — May, 2016

-Identified gene and protein expression profiles and pharmacodynamic properties of novel chemopreventive compounds -Studied the global geographical overlap of liver cancer risk factors - aflatoxin exposure and hepatitis viruses with public health data -Evaluated the molecular basis of organ toxicity induced by acetaminophen, diquat and high fat diet and tested how interventions can prevent or minimize these toxicities

UMASS Medical School, Department of Pathology

Research Technician / May, 2009 — May, 2010

-Investigated the role of the immunoproteasome in antigen presentation in the adaptive immune system

UMASS Medical School, Department of Cancer Biology

Research Intern / May, 2007 — May, 2009

-Studied the role of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) in breast cancer metastasis in cell lines and tumors using bioinformatics software

Research Expertise

About

· Highly productive scientist with 13 years of multidisciplinary experience in toxicology, molecular nutrition, and aging/ disease biomarkers · Excellent communicator with proven record of advanced writing and presentation skills - manuscripts, conference presentations, and grants · Extensive experience in large study design, supervision and coordination, big data analysis, and management of junior scientists

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Susan Song, MD/PhD

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Research Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at University of Pittsburgh

Education

Southern Medical University

MD/PhD, Neurology, Neuroscience / June, 2015

Guangzhou

University of Pittsburgh

Post-doc, Neuroscience / December, 2019

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Experience

University of Pittsburgh

Research Assistant Professor / January, 2022 — Present

Research Instructor / January, 2020 — December, 2021

Postdoctoral Scholar / October, 2015 — December, 2019

Research Expertise

microglia

white matter

neurodegenerative disease

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Neurology

And 11 more

About

Susan Song, MD/PhD, is a highly accomplished neuroscientist, with extensive education and experience in the field. She received her MD/PhD in Neurology and Neuroscience from Southern Medical University in 2015, where she conducted groundbreaking research on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. Following this, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, where she continued to excel in her research and received numerous awards and grants for her work. Dr. Song's expertise lies in studying the underlying causes and potential treatments for various neurological diseases, such as ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, glioblastoma, Alzheimer's disease, and multiple sclerosis. She has a deep understanding of the brain and nervous system, and is constantly seeking new ways to unravel the complexities of these diseases. Dr. Song has held several prestigious positions throughout her career, including her current position as Research Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She has published numerous articles in top scientific journals and presented her research at international conferences. Her findings have contributed greatly to the field of neurology and have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people suffering from neurological disorders. Overall, Dr. Song is a highly respected and accomplished physician-scientist who is making significant contributions to the field of neurology. With her extensive education, diverse experience, and unwavering dedication to her patients, she is a true leader in the field and a valuable asset to the medical community.

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Beatrice Fadrigon

Austin, Texas, United States of America

Clinical Study Coordinator at University of Texas at Austin

Education

University of Pittsburgh

Bachelor's of Science, Psychology / May, 2021

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

University of California, Berkeley

Masters, Information Management and Systems / May, 2023

Berkeley, California, United States of America

Experience

University of Texas at Austin

Clinical Study Coordinator / November, 2023 — Present

Managing a 5-year long NIMH Grant Funded research study on digital mental health treatments for depression symptoms.

Alumni Fellow / June, 2023 — August, 2023

Returned as an Alumni Fellow for the iSchool Inclusion Institute, teaching workshops about Intersectional Research and mentoring up to 30 undergraduate students for a summer.

University of California, Berkeley

Graduate Student Instructor / August, 2023 — May, 2024

Graduate Student Instructor for two courses at the UC Berkeley School of Information. DATASCI 231: Behind The Data: Humans & Values and INFOSCI 272: Qualitative Research Methods

Palo Alto Networks

Inclusive Recruitment Programs Intern / May, 2022 — August, 2022

Analyzed employee surveys at a cybersecurity firm to garner insights on employee engagement in ERGs and used research methods & federal standards set by the EEOC to inform sourcers and recruiters to be mindful of bias in their hiring processes.

University of Pittsburgh

Undergraduate Research Assistant / August, 2020 — April, 2021

Worked in the CAMBIAR Collective Lab which focused on how youth develop their anti-racist actions through school settings.

Research Expertise

About

I'm Beatrice and I am currently a Clinical Study Coordinator at the Mood Disorders Lab at University of Texas at Austin. I have a Master in Information Management Systems program at UC Berkeley and a B.S in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. I enjoy being an academic and engaging with my community through leadership in organizing. Recently, I have also been pursuing a few freelance opportunities in short term research projects and teaching a workshop series. <br>

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K. Suzanne Scherf

Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Penn State University

Education

University of Pittsburgh

PhD, Psychology

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Research Expertise

developmental cognitive neuroscience

vision

autism

adolescent

Cognitive Neuroscience

And 31 more

About

My core interests lie in understanding how children and adolescents perceive and interpret social signals and how emerging functional specificity of the developing brain supports this process. My approach primarily involves using the face processing system as a model domain. Faces are dynamic stimuli from which we extract many different kinds of information (e.g., gender, age, emotional state, mate potential, social status, trustworthiness, intentions, “person knowledge”). All of these processes must be executed accurately and rapidly for many faces over the course of a single day, making face processing among the most taxing perceptual challenges confronted by people in their day-to-day life. Given that faces are also the pre-eminent social signal, studying developmental changes in the behavioral and brain basis of face processing in typically developing individuals and in those affected by social-emotional disorders may index a core set of developmental changes within the broader social information processing system. I employ converging methodologies, including functional (fMRI) and structural magnetic resonance, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) along with detailed behavioral paradigms in both typically developing populations and those with developmental disorders to examine development from early childhood to adulthood.

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Nicholas Chehade

Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, United States of America

Ph.D. candidate in systems neuroscience researching spatiotemporal dynamics of neural activity in support of forelimb movements

Education

University of Pittsburgh

Neuroscience

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

The Ohio State University

B.S. in Neuroscience and Computer Information Science, Neuroscience / May, 2017

Columbus

Research Expertise

Neurology

Cognitive Neuroscience

Biomedical Engineering

About

I am a neurophysiologist with training in multi-modal techniques in order to elucidate the spatiotemporal dynamics of cortical activity that support coordinated movements of the forelimb. Specifically, I aim to relate the spatial organization of cortical outputs to muscles of the arm and hand to the temporal dynamics of unit activity in primary motor cortex (M1) during reach-to-grasp movements of non-human primates (NHP). My research efforts consist of collecting and analyzing four different types of data: electromyography, kinematic, intrinsic signal imaging (ISOI) and electrophysiological data. ISOI was used to delineate the spatial organization of neural activity that supports reaching and grasping. Then, a laminar multielectrode placed in a multitude of locations of M1 captured the temporal activation of \~1,500 individual neurons during reaching and grasping. Additionally, EMG and kinematic recordings of the forelimb provided proxies for behavior to relate muscle and joint activity to neural activity.

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Deborah Glosser, PhD

Assistant Professor at Western Washington University with machine learning and experimental expertise in materials science and engineering

Education

Oregon State University

PhD, Civil and Materials Engineering / June, 2020

Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America

University of Pittsburgh

M.S., Geophysics / June, 2013

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Duquesne University

JD, Business Law / June, 2005

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Research Expertise

thermodynamics

reaction kinetics

materials science

computational methods

About

Dr. Deborah Glosser is a highly accomplished engineer, geophysicist, and attorney with a broad range of experience in academia, consulting, and government agencies. She received her PhD in Civil and Materials Engineering from Oregon State University in 2020, where she specialized in materials science and engineering pertaining to sustainable materials. She also holds a Master's in Geophysics from the University of Pittsburgh and a JD in Business Law from Duquesne University. Dr. Glosser has a strong background in research and academia, having served as an Assistant Professor at Western Washington University. She has also worked as a Technical Consultant at Bardwell Consulting, providing expert advice on geophysical and engineering projects. In addition, she has held positions at government agencies such as the Oregon Public Utilities Commission and the US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory. Dr. Glosser's expertise lies in the intersection of engineering, geophysics, and law. She has a deep understanding of the technical aspects of materials science and geophysical processes, and is able to analyze and interpret complex data to inform decision-making. Her legal background also allows her to navigate complex regulations and provide guidance on compliance and risk management. Throughout her career, Dr. Glosser has been recognized for her contributions to the field of engineering and geophysics, and has received numerous awards and grants for her research and teaching. She is committed to continued learning and staying at the forefront of advancements in her areas of expertise.

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Dr. Lyuqin (Lydia) Chen, Ph.D.

Consultant in Healthcare with PhD in life science

Experience

University of Pittsburgh

postdoc associate / April, 2019 — Present

• Led and organized a trans-disciplinary journal club, involving 9 labs across 3 different institutes. • Collaborated with multidisciplinary groups, identified, and validated novel druggable targets in oncology field, contributing to a co-first author paper, and two co-authored and one review papers.

Stanford University

Postdoc / May, 2017 — March, 2019

Establish gene editing system in house and provide technical consulting service on CRISPR/Cas9 technology within 4 interdisciplinary research groups.

Pittsburgh Management Consulting

Consultant / January, 2024 — Present

Collaborated with a team of 3 consultant and 3 analysts in marketing and finance field to assist clients, including a top 25 pharmaceutical company, in solving business and operational challenges.

AlphaSense

Expert Consultant / January, 2024 — Present

As a seasoned professional specializing in life sciences and business, I provide comprehensive consultation services spanning R&D drug discovery, pre-clinical and clinical trials, and marketing strategies. My expertise extends to conducting thorough data research and analysis to offer valuable insights into the business landscape. I excel in delivering a holistic perspective, encompassing competitive landscape analysis, identifying M&A opportunities, and conducting margins analysis for clients within the life science sector. Collaborating closely with life science clients, I contribute to their success by analyzing market trends and providing strategic recommendations.

Research Expertise

About

Dr. Lyuqin (Lydia) Chen, Ph.D. is a highly educated and experienced professional with a diverse background in finance, marketing, and life science. She obtained her Ph.D. in Genetics at 2016 and then went on to pursue her MBA in Finance and Marketing in 2023. 2016. She has a strong academic foundation and has also gained practical experience in life science research through her postdoctoral positions at the University of Pittsburgh and Stanford University. Dr. Chen has also worked in the business world, serving as a consultant at Pittsburgh Management Consulting and an expert consultant at AlphaSense. These roles have allowed her to apply her expertise in life science to real-world problems, providing valuable insights and solutions to various industries. Her impressive educational and professional background has equipped her with a wide range of skills, including data analysis, critical thinking, and project management. Dr. Chen is a dedicated and driven individual, always seeking new opportunities to expand her knowledge and contribute to the advancement of her fields of expertise. She is a valuable asset in any organization, bringing a unique blend of scientific and business expertise to the table.

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Dr. Zimife Umeh, Ph.D.

Experienced Research Consultant | Ph.D. in Sociology | Expert in Data-Driven Insights | Transforming Research into Action

Education

PhD, Sociology / May, 2020

Durham, North Carolina, United States of America

University of Pittsburgh

B.S., Finance / May, 2009

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Research Expertise

About

Race- and gender-based inequality researcher and consultant with a background in conducting empirical studies using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Methodological techniques include survey development and analysis, ethnography, interviews, and focus groups. Expertise with developing, managing, and evaluating research projects, conducting analysis, and synthesizing

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Sushma Anand Akoju

University of Arizona

Education

University of Arizona

Doctor of Philosophy , Computer Science

Ariz.

University of Colorado Boulder

Masters in Data Science, Data Science / August, 2022

Boulder

University of Pittsburgh

Masters in Information Science, School of Information Sciences / December, 2015

Pittsburgh

University of Hyderabad

Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice and Forensic Science, Distance Education / September, 2012

Hyderabad

Research Expertise

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Majd Sakr

Professor of Computer Science, leader of the Technology for Effective and Efficient Learning (TEEL) Lab, and co-director of the Master of Computational Data Science (MCDS) Program.

Education

University of Pittsburgh

About

Online education, project-based learning, cloud computing, human-robot interaction.

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Zackary Cope

Seasoned behavioral neuroscientist and in vivo pharmacologist with university and industry experience

Experience

Sage Therapeutics

Scientist II / September, 2021 — September, 2023

Early Discovery Researcher, Experiment Management and Overshight, Cross-function Communication

University of Pittsburgh

Project Research Scientist / July, 2019 — September, 2021

Early Project Launch, Method Validation, Protocol Development

Research Expertise

Cross-Species Behavioral Neuroscience

Circadian Mechanisms in Psychiatric Illness

Chemicogenetics

Aging

Cognitive Neuroscience

And 17 more

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Dr. Benjamin Robinson, Ph.D.

Adaptable cell biologist experienced in molecular biology, scientific communication, and student education.

Education

Drexel University

Ph.D, Biological Sciences / December, 2023

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

University of Pittsburgh

B.S., Biological Sciences / April, 2015

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Experience

Drexel University

Research Assistant / September, 2017 — January, 2024

Investigated the effect of septin-coated microtubules on maturing multi-vesicular body endosomal compartments. This included the use of cellular and biochemical assays, super-resolution multi-color microscopy and live cell fluorescent imaging techniques to determine the spatio-temporal organization of septins around the endomembrane system and their interactor proteins. This work resulted in a first author publication (accepted pending publication), first author book chapter, and contributing author publication, with findings presented at multiple conferences and forums.

Teaching Assistant / September, 2017 — December, 2023

Responsible for the presentation of relevant topics on cell, molecular, and developmental biology, including genetics, the creation of recitation lectures, creation of assessment questions, and grading of written assignments, assessments, and lab reports.

Duquesne University

Research Technician / January, 2016 — September, 2017

Investigated the function of the α-arrestin protein trafficking adaptors during endocytosis and intracellular trafficking using involving molecular, cellular, and biochemical techniques. This work resulted in a first author publication and was presented at multiple conferences. Additionally trained and oversaw the undergraduate lab personnel while maintaining the function of the lab itself.

University of Pittsburgh

Research Technician / May, 2015 — October, 2015

Performed lab duties such as the maintenance of tissue culture, archiving histology slides, mRNA extractions, neo-natal cardiomyocyte isolation, and general lab upkeep.

Undergraduate Researcher / May, 2013 — April, 2015

Trained in molecular and biochemical techniques, with a focus on plasmid cloning as well as protein isolation and purification for pull-down assays.