Spring 2018 – Present

I currently conduct research with the World Trade Center Health Program under the guidance of Dr. Sean Clouston, quantifying the effects of PTSD and cognitive aging on the responder population. Our focus incorporates cognitive testing and an MRI scan to determine the brain’s structural and functional integrity. I’ve been trained to give cognitive assessments such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Cogstate Assessment for reaction time measurements. We expect the data to indicate a strong correlation between PTSD and symptoms of cognitive impairment.

 

Fall 2017 – Spring 2018

For my senior design project, I worked with four other students under the supervision of Dr. Helmut Strey and Dr. Miriam Rafailovich to design a Bluetooth oral keypad device, ideal for assisting individuals with quadriplegia. The device was able to connect to systems such as an iPad, which could then control a wheelchair for increased independence.

 

Spring 2017 – Fall 2017

I began research in the Radiology Department under the guidance of Dr. Tim Q. Duong, where I studied and segmented gray matter lesions in the brains of individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. I received funding from URECA (Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activities) to continue this research throughout the summer. The findings from this study magnified the importance of gray matter in what was previously considered a primarily white matter disease.