About Me

Hi, I am Sindhuja (see below for the pronunciation), an engineer turned neuroscientist. Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory (AIBIL) in the Center for Biomedical Image Computing & Analytics (CBICA) at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, USA. I study the effects of cardiovascular, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors on neuroanatomy using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and machine learning (MRI). My research interests lie in developing and implementing advanced image processing methods, statistical analyses and machine learning to investigate neurodegeneration using multimodal in vivo neuroimaging and clinical data.

In parallel to my research efforts, I support efforts for a more open and collaborative interdisciplinary science, promoting inclusivity especially for Women in Science and Engineering, and peer-led programs for Career Enhancement and Training among early career researchers. Fun facts: I maintain a love/hate relationship with making many many plots, mostly the former, and I still have not figured out social media.


Saying my first name: Sin - dhu, with 'dh' sounding like 'th' in "the" - ja, with a hard 'j' like "jar"

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, NY (2020)

  • Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (2011)

  • Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India (2008)

Awards and recognition

Presidential travel award, Biomedical postdoctoral council, University of Pennsylvania (June 2022)

  • Travel award for presenting at the Alzheimer's Imaging Consortium 2022

President’s Award to Distinguished Doctoral Students, Stony Brook University, NY (May 2021)

      • Highest merit awarded to 5 graduating doctoral students each year to recognize the outstanding merit of the student's dissertation and its research base, exceptional contributions in ability or service to the university, and overcoming adversity during the graduate program

      • Valedictorian speaker at the PhD hooding ceremony


Brain Sciences Journal, Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

  • Original research article featured on the cover of Volume 11, Issue 1 (January 2021)

John Marburger III Fellowship for Science, Engineering & Mathematics, Stony Brook University, NY (May 2020)

  • Graduate school endowment award for excellence in STEM research and leadership

International Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • 26th Annual Meeting Trainee Travel Award (2018)

  • 27th Annual Meeting Trainee Travel Award (2019)


CONTACT

Get in touch at sindhuja(dot)tg(at)gmail(dot)com