Ali Haydaroglu Email & Phone Number

United States

London, England, United Kingdom

PhD student at the Carandini/Harris lab.

Toronto

Leading a research project on using maximum-entropy models to estimate connectivity of neural signals. Benchmarked the models against existing connectivity measures in computational neuroscience. Implemented an accelerated CPU version of the algorithm and worked with the Fujitsu Co-Creation Laboratory to implement a hardware-accelerated version of the model on the quantum computing-inspired Digital Annealer Unit for future clinical applications at TWH. Qualified as a finalist in the CRANIA 3 Minute Thesis Competition, and was the winner of the UofT Engineering Research Conference Poster Competition, both as the only undergraduate competitor.

I was the director of the world's only student-funded and student-led space program. My responsibilities and projects included:- Growing the team from ~25 active members to 60+ through targeted recruitment, thorough training, and ensuring member retention.- Leading multiple initiatives to build and improve team culture, address the team's struggles with diversity and inclusion, and build a healthy and effective team environment.- Continued involvement in the technical development of the satellite, including the electrical systems, payload microfluidics and fluid actuation, on-board software, mission planning and orbital/thermal/energy simulations.- Conducting a successful university-wide campaign to pass a referendum to fund the satellite with the support of the 40,000-large UofT student body.- Managing an annual budget of $200,000 and corresponding with launch providers to negotiate and arrange the launch of HERON.- Producing literature on the technical and organizational aspects of the HERON missions for various international conferences (UNISEC Global, IEEE ISSE). - Leading outreach initiatives on social media, conventions, conferences and other events.

Toronto, Canada Area

I was the technical lead of the world's only student-funded and student-led space program. I led the development of HERON Mk II, an open-source CubeSat containing a microbiology experiment. I led the systems-level design of the electrical and software systems, managed a major redesign of the payload system, and planned internal and external milestones across nine subsystems. I supported, guided and trained a motivated, tight-knit team of 30+ students throughout various stages of design and production.

Toronto

Researched and developed machine learning, optimization and signal processing algorithms for a state-of the-art software package (cryoSPARC) for reconstructing atomic resolution (2-5 Angstrom) 3D structures of proteins from cryo-Electron Microscopy images. Implemented scientific computing algorithms in Python and C, and parallelized them on NVIDIA GPUs using the CUDA language. Novel algorithms I developed are now included in the standard computational pipeline in cryo-EM data processing and have been used over 11,000 times in 140+ high-impact academic and pharmaceutical research laboratories around the world.

Toronto, Canada Area

Worked under the supervision of Dr. Taufik Valiente, the Co-Director of the Epilepsy Program at the Krembil Neuroscience Center, and Prof. Roman Genov from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Toronto. Designed and implemented a closed-loop neurostimulation algorithm for seizure control using machine learning. The algorithm makes use of a Support Vector Machine, a Reinforcement Learning paradigm and an online digital signal processing component.During the development of the algorithm, I conducted tests on hippocampal slices of mouse brains, as well as on computer simulations of mathematical models of seizure dynamics. The algorithm is intended for use in implantable devices in humans which could allow for cutting edge seizure control in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Toronto, Canada Area

I wrote and edited content for Ivy Global's ACT Guide, 1st Edition, as well as other study resources for high school students preparing for various standardized tests. I was credited in the recently published ACT Guide as a collaborator. Additionally, I tutored students in 1-on-1 private sessions as well as in a classroom of 20 students on Math, Reading Comprehension and Writing.