• PhD research advised by Dr. Eni Halilaj and Dr. Katherine J Kuchenbecker • Investigating how haptic biofeedback can be used to alter maladaptive gait to slow knee osteoarthritis progression

• Research intern with HP Labs: AI & Emerging Compute group. • Exploring how cognitive load changes while immersed in dynamic virtual reality environments.• Quantifying mental effort using physiological sensors.

• Masters thesis advised by Dr. Eric Rombokas• Conducting research on a Department of Defense funded project in Puget Sound Veterans Administration Hospital as a graduate student at the University of Washington in Seattle.• Developing a system of haptic feedback for a lower-limb prosthesis to be used in stair descent.• Utilizing embedded systems, such as the Arduino and BeagleBone, to control output vibration characteristics using force-sensitive resistors as input, communicated over ROS.• Working with patients of targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) surgery to characterize the sensory mapping of nerve regrowth in a longitudinal study.

• Undergraduate research advised by Dr. Elliott Rouse.• Designing a SolidWorks model of machined components in order to perform stress tests and material property evaluation on leaf spring geometries in a knee exoskeleton using an Instron. • Building a revised BLDC motor control system to be used in conjunction with a previously developed rehabilitation robot by replacing a PIC32 microcontroller with a single-board computer system (Raspberry Pi).• Developing a code base (Python) to operate on the Raspberry Pi to allow arbitrary position profiles to be sent to the IC chip and commanded to the robot using pulse-width modulation.• Shadowing a certified prosthetist for over 30 hours to gain exposure to prosthetics and biomechanics, working to troubleshoot myoelectric prostheses as well as gait analysis and fit adjustment.

• Undergraduate research advised by Dr. Marc Slutzky• Contributing to development of a speech recognition brain-computer interface • Using Matlab to sort subdural field potential readings (speech motor cortical signals) and patient audio clips in time and frequency domains• Developing Matlab code and debugging in order to enable fluidity across a range of platforms

• Maintaining organization of a biomedical startup accelerator.• Performing market analysis and locating information in order to validate novel technologies.• Creating executive summaries of technologies to present at entrepreneurial and investing events. • Leading an investigation on the economic impact of research in the Chicago Technology Park and Illinois Medical District.

Derafshi et al. "Corneal potential maps measured with multi-electrode electroretinography in rat eyes with experimental lesions" (2017)• Undergraduate research advised by Dr. John Hetling• Assessing location and extent of laser/cryo damage to the retina through microdissection.• Working with researchers at the Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute to expand on microdissection findings with a histological approach (embedding and staining). • Analyzing images of retina damage using ImageJ and presenting findings to the lab group.

• Undergraduate research advised by Dr. Hananeh Esmailbeigi• Developing a low-cost medical device that filters and transfuses blood via IV to women experiencing postpartum hemorrhage• Working on additions to improve range of usability, such as a solar power or hand crank attachment.• Running long time span tests of up to 8 hours to prove durability of the device by circulating porcine blood through the system.