Wiete Fehner
Role: COURSE FOUNDER, Course organizer, curriculum development
Email: f.wiete@wustl.edu
I am Wiete Fehner, an Imaging Science PhD candidate (2021 cohort) in Dr. Culver’s lab. My research focuses on using high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) for human brain mapping in naturalistic settings. Before joining the PhD program, I lived in Finland, where I finished my MSc in neuroscience. Challenges I experienced during my transition into the field of engineering motivated me to develop a math crash course, which introduces students to math concepts that will be encountered during core classes. I enjoy interacting with incoming students and the WashU community; the Math Crash Course has been a wonderful way to do so. Connect with me on LinkedIn.
Nischal Khanal
Role: COURSE FOUNDER, Course organizer, Curriculum Development, Tutor
email: nkhanal@wustl.edu
Hi, I am Nischal, a PhD student in Imaging Science from the 2021 cohort. I am part of Dr. Adam Bauer’s optical neuroimaging laboratory where I work on optogenetic motor mapping in mice. I completed my undergraduate studies in Biomedical Engineering also at WashU. I was motivated to organize this crash course because I enjoy tutoring and, having recently completed the first year courses, I know how difficult they can be without a strong math foundation.
Sungmin Park
ROLE: COURSE FOUNDER, Course organizer
email: s.park@wustl.edu
My name is Sungmin and I’m a Ph.D student in the Imaging Science Program (2021 cohort), and I work with Dr. Adam Eggebrecht in the Brain Light Laboratory. Before coming to St. Louis, I was an undergraduate research assistant in UW Seattle, and completed my bachelors in Bioconvergence at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Mathematics of Imaging Science (ESE 570) was my first course in Signals & Systems and the challenges I faced inspired me to help develop this math crash course to help students like me ease into graduate-level math courses. Fun fact about me: I named my five plants after math concepts and mathematicians.
Morgan Fogarty
ROLE: COURSE FOUNDER, Course Organizer
Email: M.fogarty@wustl.edu
Hi! I’m a rising 5th year in the Imaging Science PhD program working on functional brain mapping using diffuse optical tomography in Joe Culver’s lab. I did my undergraduate in BME at the Illinois Institute of Technology where I stumbled through all my math courses before promptly forgetting everything while working as a research assistant at MGH. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, watching trashy reality TV, and obsessing over my dog, Ada. I’m so excited for this course to help students feel more confident going into their first-year courses and I can’t wait to hear all of your feedback!
Sanskar Thakur
ROLE: Course organizer, CUrriculum Development, tutor
email: s.s.thakur@wustl.edu
I am Sanskar Thakur, second year Imaging science PhD student in Dr. Quing Zhu’s lab. I work on Optical and Ultrasound imaging tools for Cancer management. My undergraduate studies were in Production Engineering and I have a master’s in Mechanical Engineering from IUPUI. I also worked at MGH as a research engineer for the Tearney lab which got me interested in Imaging science. Math crash course helped me refresh my math skills in 2022, and it was so helpful to me that I decided to join the team to develop it further. I hope to connect with incoming students and help them transition at WashU. Connect with me on insta- not_a_sanskar or LinkedIn.
Mahshid Naghashzadeh
ROLE: Course organizer, curriculum development, tutor
Email: m.naghashzadeh@wustl.edu
I am Mahshid Naghashzadeh, a PhD student in Imaging Science (2022 cohort) at Dr. Cyrus Raji’s lab. My research is centered on developing AI-driven solutions for clinical MRI imaging challenges, with a particular focus on linear algebra and deep learning techniques. I earned both my MSc and BSc in Electrical Engineering in Iran, where mathematics was a foundation of my coursework and research. By developing and tutoring the Math Crash course, I actively engage with incoming students and various communities at WashU, creating a collaborative environment where we all benefit from shared knowledge and insights. Connect with me on LinkedIn!
Braden Yang
ROLE: Course Organizer, Curriuclum Development, Tutor
Email: b.y.yang@wustl.edu
I’m Braden, currently a 3rd year PhD student in Imaging Science. I work in the Medical Imaging and Data Science (MINDS) lab with Dr. Aris Sotiras. My project focuses on adapting and developing machine learning techniques to predict longitudinal risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease from neuroimaging data. I am also interested in data harmonization topics to address inter-scanner and inter-site variability in PET biomarkers. During my undergraduate studies, my all time favorite class that I took was intro to linear algebra. This eventually led to an interest in medical imaging and machine learning, where I had multiple opportunities to get involved in research related to these fields in my undergrad and postbacc experiences. Looking back at it, intro to linear algebra was also the most useful course that I had ever taken, since I am continuing to apply that knowledge to this day in my current research. I hope to share my excitement about math and to show its importance in imaging research through the Math Crash Course!
Kweku Enninful
ROLE: Course Organizer, Curriuclum Development, Tutor
Email: e.kweku@wustl.edu
My name is Kweku. I am Biomedical Engineering PhD student (2022 cohort) in Dr. Abhinav Jha’s lab. Before joining the PhD program I did my undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ghana and worked as a research assistant at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research after graduating. I was part of the first cohort of students in the Math crash course in 2022. Having experienced how helpful the crash course is, especially for the first year imaging science courses, I am motivated to organise the course to help make handling graduate level math easier. Let’s get through this math maze together and have a fantastic time!
Connect with me on LinkedIn: Kweku Sofo Enninful
Yuanxin Qiu
ROLE: Curriuclum Development, Tutor
Email: q.yuanxin@wustl.edu
Hi! I am Yuanxin Qiu, a third year PhD in Imaging Science. I am currently working in the LewLab led by Dr. Matthew Lew. Our lab focuses on developing optical microscopy to resolve nano scale structures in biological systems. My interests in research involves developing multi-dimensional microscopic system and applying them on interesting scientific questions. I spent my undergrad in Southern University of Science and Technology in China studying Biomedical Engineering and earned my Master’s degree in Bioengineering at Temple University. I participated in Math crash course 2022 as a student, and I am extremely excited to be a part of this community again. Hope to spend this great summer with you.
Ahmad Chowdhury
ROLE: Curriuclum Development, Tutor
Email: a.chowdhury@wustl.edu
Greetings! I’m Ahmad Chowdhury, a PhD student in Imaging Science program (2023 cohort) under the mentorship of Prof. Aristeidis Sotiras at Medical Imaging and Data Science (MINDS) lab. My research focuses on AI-driven diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. My foundational education was in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh, after which I spent two years as a data analyst in e-commerce company. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, playing table tennis, and a good laugh from sitcoms. I’m excited to explore topics of Linear Algebra in the upcoming Math Crash Course together. Feel free to reach out to me by email at a.chowdhury@wustl.edu.
Suraj Khochare
ROLE: Tutor
Email: k.surajdeepak@wustl.edu
I am Suraj Khochare, a PhD student in the Imaging Science program (2023 cohort), and I am working on single molecule imaging in Dr. Matthew Lew’s lab. I did my undergrad and my master’s in Electrical Engineering in India and USA respectively. My past research/work involved microscopy, image analysis, machine learning and software development. I briefly participated in the Math Crash Course 2023 and found it very helpful for new graduate students in multiple fields. I’m happy and excited to meet new students, exchange thoughts on graduate programs/curriculum/student life at WashU and help them get rolling with the Math Crash Course 2024. Please feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn with any questions or discussions that you may have!
Calvin Foss
ROLE: Tutor
Email: c.foss@wustl.edu
My name is Calvin. I am a second year Imaging Science PhD in Dr. Adam Bauer’s lab working on wide field imaging of mouse cortex. I did my undergrad in Physics at Loyola Marymount University and worked as a research assistant doing molecular biophysics under Dr. Zahra Alavi. I then worked in auditory neuroscience at University of California, San Francisco as a lab manager for Dr. Andrea Hasenstaub. I participated in the Math crash course in summer 2023, and I’m excited to help new incoming students! Feel free to reach out to me by email at c.foss@wustl.edu or social media @calvinfoss
Katie Duncan
ROLE: Tutor
Email: kmduncan@wustl.edu
Hi! I’m Katie, a second year Imaging Science PhD student in Dr. Sencan-Egilmez’s Biomedical Optics and Neurovascular Imaging Lab where we are working to visualize neurovascular dynamics in neurodegenerative disease non-invasively through the retina or optical intrinsic signal imaging (OISI). I did my undergrad at Tulane University in Neuroscience and Cognitive Philosophy and then made my way back to St. Louis to work at Wash U’s Biophotonics Research Center and Molecular Imaging Core (MIC) with Dr. Monica Shokeen and Dr. Sam Achilefu. Which all led me to the Imaging Sciences program, and 2023 Math Crash Course served as a great introduction and I’m excited to meet and help incoming students and others in the Wash U community! I’m always a bit too willing to talk about cycling or St. Louis food recommendations, feel free to reach out about anything via email at kmduncan@wustl.edu, social media, or LinkedIn!
Uttkarsh Chaurasia
ROLE: Tutor
Email: uttkarsh@wustl.edu
Hello everyone! I’m Uttkarsh Chaurasia, diving deep into Imaging Science as a PhD student (2023 cohort). I’m part of Dr. Abhinav Jha’s team in the Computational Medical Imaging and Therapy Lab, where I tackle the challenge of developing unsupervised methods to segment SPECT/CT images for radiopharmaceutical therapies. I have completed Dual Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Hamirpur, India. When I’m not geeking out on research, you can catch me at the gym, playing soccer or basketball, taking long drives, exploring new cities and their fantastic food, grooving to R&B and hip-hop, or enjoying a live concert. I’m here to make your journey a breeze, so don’t hesitate to drop me a line for anything from academic advice to the best food spots in town!
Connect with me on LinkedIn
AJ Adkins
ROLE: Curriculum Development
Email: a.adkins@wustl.edu
My name is AJ and I am a PhD student in the Imaging Science Program. I’m in Prof. Chao Zhou’s lab working on optical imaging technologies and integrated photonics. I did my undergrad in physics and music, and after graduating I spent a year teaching calculus and computer programming to high school students before coming to WashU. I believe that studying math goes far beyond solving individual problems, it can improve your logical reasoning skills and help you see things outside of math in a new light!
Rezwana Razzaque
ROLE: Curriculum Development
Email: r.razzaque@wustl.edu
Hi everyone! I’m Rezwana, a second-year Imaging Science Ph.D. student in Dr. Muriah Wheelock’s lab at the Neuroimaging Research Center. I completed my undergrad in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh, and jumped straight into Ph.D. My research focuses on improving the reliability of connectome-behavior association studies in large-scale resting-state fMRI data using statistical inference and machine learning tools. I’m also interested in how sleep and different arousal levels affect functional connectomes. My transition to neuroimaging was pretty challenging, given my limited formal training in statistics and probability during undergrad. We all know, there is no more important foundation for fMRI analysis than a solid background in probability and statistics. So, for those like me who find probability challenging, this crash course is incredibly helpful. It’s also a very good networking opportunity—I met many from my cohort and seniors ( most supportive seniors ever!) through it. Being a part of the organizing team has also been a great learning experience and look forward to contributing more in the future. Apart from all these, I love to sing and listen to music ( mostly classical and Indie pop).
Ty Easley
ROLE: COURSE FOUNDER, Course Consultant
Email: tyoeasley@wustl.edu
Hi, crash course folks! My name is Ty Easley, and I’m a 5th-year Imaging Science PhD student in Professor Janine Bijsterbosch’s lab. Before starting this program, I did my undergraduate in math and physics at the University of Chicago; after graduating, I worked there as a research assistant (and also as an actor and musician around the city). My current research mostly involves methodology: I’m interested in the ways that relatively abstract math (mostly topology and geometry) can help solve problems in neuroscience. As someone who really likes math, my hope is to help create a warm and supportive learning environment that prepares you for the courses and research ahead of you. I’m so excited to meet you all and work together!
