Joel Disu is a Biomedical Engineering doctoral student at Carnegie Mellon University. He has been a research assistant and lab member in the Wood Neuro Research Group since August 2022. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from University of Ghana and pursued his master’s degree at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China where he focused on imaging and medical robotics research in Biomedical Engineering. He is originally from Accra, Ghana. His research interests broadly include neuroimaging hardware instrumentation, inclusive neurotechnology, and data acquisition using noninvasive neuroimaging devices. Joel loves listening to gospel and jazz music, reading, and playing soccer.

Research interests: sickle cell disease, functional MRI, pain, quantitative sensory testing, cerebral autoregulation

 Email: jdisu@andrew.cmu.edu

Lara Abdelmohsen is a doctoral student at Carnegie Mellon University and has been in the Wood Neuro Research Group since August 2022. She is co-advised by Dr. Noelia Grande Gutiérrez and a member of the BioSiMM Lab.  She graduated from The College of New Jersey with her Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering, and interned at Siemens Healthineers where she gained valuable experience in neuroimaging and MRI inspiring her to pursue a PhD in the field. She is broadly interested in studying the cerebral vasculature and stroke. Her goal is to use computational fluid dynamics models to understand how changes in cerebral vasculature could contribute to increased stroke risk in patients with sickle cell disease. Outside the lab, Lara enjoys hiking and Muay Thai.

Research interests: cerebral vasculature, stroke, cerebral hemodynamics, CFD, image-based simulation, sickle cell disease

Email: labdelmo@andrew.cmu.edu

Antara Titikhsha is a doctoral student at Carnegie Mellon University. She joined Wood Neuro Group in August 2023. With a keen interest in both Commonsense AI and Trustworthy AI, Antara aims to revolutionize healthcare and neurological studies by leveraging advanced computational techniques. She is particularly fascinated by the potential of AI to facilitate timely and accurate medical interventions in the future. Antara is originally from Chittagong, Bangladesh. Prior to embarking on her doctoral journey, she was a Computer Science lecturer at the Asian University for Women (AUW). She holds a Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics from AUW, supplemented with double minors in Mathematics and Computer Science. An ardent advocate for Women in STEM, Antara is committed to creating a more inclusive scientific community. Beyond her lab commitments, she actively engages in STEM mentoring and outreach initiatives. In her leisure time, Antara is an avid reader and music enthusiast. She also enjoys exploring quaint coffee shops and bookstores, adding a sense of balance and inspiration to her rigorous academic pursuits. Please follow up with Antara on her personal webpage, LinkedIn, GitHub, or Twitter / X. 

Research interests: MRI, severe brain injury, traumatic brain injury, machine learning

 Email: abarua@andrew.cmu.edu

Junhao Lin is an masters student at Carnegie Mellon University in Biomedical Engineering. He has been in the Wood Neuro Research Group since fall of 2023. 

Alexis Duong is an undergraduate student at CMU in her senior year. She has had the pleasure of being an undergraduate research assistant since June of 2022. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering as well as a minor in Biomedical Engineering with hopes to finish her B.S. and M.S. in ECE within 4 years. Alexis has always been interested in designing, developing, and improving medical devices and diagnostics. Specifically she is focused on reducing the bias in neuro-imaging modalities at the Wood Neuro Lab. Alexis doesn’t sit still and is always busy with something! From research, building circuits, coding to playing tennis, hiking, and drinking boba there’s almost nothing she doesn’t want to try or do.

Email: aduong@andrew.cmu.edu

Aditi Jain is an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University pursuing Electrical and Computer Engineering. She has been working with the Wood Neuro Research Group since May 2024 and currently researching the use of DCS waveforms to identify a biomarker of sickle cell disease. Outside of research, Aditi enjoys tinkering, volunteering, and the outdoors.

Rhea Soo is an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University double majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering. She has been in the Wood Neuro Research Group since summer of 2024. Rhea is passionate about advancing medical devices and promoting equitable access to healthcare. She is currently working on analyzing Arterial Spin Labeling and Phase-Contrast MRI data to inform Computational Fluid Dynamics models to better understand cerebral hemodynamics in patients with Sickle Cell Disease. Outside of research, Rhea enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, and traveling.