PI's: Dr. Ian Nauhaus, Dr. Xuexin Wei Thesis Project: “Probing the Role of Inhibitory Interneurons in Stimulus Tuning of Hierarchical Projections in Mouse Visual Cortex”I am examining the physiological means by which robust representations ofparticular stimulus features emerge along the visual hierarchy by combining fluorescentcalcium imaging and optogenetics in order to simultaneously observe and manipulate inter-areal activity in visual cortex during visual stimulation. This project will image adjacent populations of retinotopically matched cells in primary visual cortex (V1) and higher visual areas (HVAs). I seek to describe the tuning properties of individual HVAs such that their activity can be understood as afunction of particular V1 inputs. Generalized linear models will be employed to simulate HVAactivity driven by V1 inputs and make predictions regarding changes in stimulus tuning causedby optical perturbation of feedforward inhibitory mechanisms. The correspondence or lackthereof between computational predictions and physiological results will provide new insightsregarding the role of feedforward inhibition in shaping the response characteristics of visualareas beyond V1.

Neuroengineering and Nanophotonics Laboratory PI: Arto NurmikkoPublication: "Decoding speech from spike-based neural population recordings in secondary auditory cortex of non-human primates" https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-019-0707-9Thesis: "Decoding Complex Sounds from Broadband Population Activity in Primate Superior Temporal Gyrus"

PI: Stephen DavidProject: Role of arousal in decoding fidelity for acoustic stimuli from single unit activity in auditory cortex

Worked in the Electrophysiology Research Section of the NIDA Intramural Program investigating the pharmacology of a novel designer stimulant.

Research assistant for the VA Maryland Exercise and Robotics Center of Excellence. Worked on neuro-rehabilitation robotics and brain plasticity research projects involving the development and clinical testing of an impedance-controlled modular ankle robot (“Anklebot”) to improve walking and balance after stroke. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gBUOFYbroQ