TEAMS
CURRENT
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Research Focus: I am passionate about utilizing data science to accelerate the actualization of personalized medicine in clinical practice. Particularly, I am interested in computational multi-omics research combining single-cell RNAseq and spatial transcriptomics data to enhance our understanding of cancer pathology that can be translated into prognostic approaches for effective cancer treatment.
My Role: Currently, I am collaborating with computational research at Angelo Lab (Stanford Medicine Department of Pathology), Hagood Lab (UNC School of Medicine), and LOCI@VCU Lab (Philips Institute for Oral Health Research) for contribution to NIH consortium projects such as The Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP) and Human Cell Atlas (HCA). I utilize data visualization and statistical inference tools such as Seurat, LIANA+, and NicheNet to cluster cells by type on highly granular UMAP plots, then integrate various inference methods to identify ligand-receptor interactions with differential gene expressions in progressive vs non-progressive cancer tissues. I also assist with decision-making on which statistical models or methods to apply to case-specific scenarios by researching and presenting detailed comparisons of their mathematical set-up. Currently, I am collaborating with team members specializing in AI/ML method development to optimize combined results of single cell and spatial data.
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Team Objectives: Our lab focuses on research areas in hepatology including epidemiology, clinical outcomes, translational studies, and therapeutic clinical trials for chronic hepatitis B/C, fatty liver, and liver cancer. We also examine socioeconomic disparities in healthcare by probing data on risk factors, quality outcomes, and ethnicity-related issues on care delivery for such liver diseases.
My Role: I conduct data selection, cleaning, analysis, and interpretation by tailoring models to each study protocol. One of my most frequent involvements have been meta-analysis projects, ranging from global survival rate analysis following curative surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma to treatment rates of direct-acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C by continent. Most recently, I published a paper of my own investigating socioeconomic disparities reflected by chronic liver disease trends, using national data from NHANES including income-to-poverty ratio and other social determinants. I’m particularly passionate about addressing healthcare equity through data-based research. I also love to connect with my colleague interns by discussing project directions and mentoring them on data modeling using R/STATA analysis software.
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Team Objectives: We are a joint team between Duke University Medical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center. Our research is founded on the understanding that noninvasive brain stimulation, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), can safely modulate cortical and subcortical functioning. By targeting neurocircuitry implicated in substance use disorders, rTMS has the potential to induce long-term behavioral changes.
To evaluate the feasibility of a multimodal rTMS smoking cessation treatment for veterans with PTSD, we are conducting a longitudinal intervention study with participants recruited from the Durham VA. In this two-arm parallel design study, participants undergo a baseline MRI scan, receive 5 days of twice-daily active or sham rTMS the week before their quit date, and have a post-treatment MRI scan, concurrently undergoing conventional cognitive behavioral therapy and nicotine replacement therapy. We hope to build a foundation for future development of treatments for substance use disorders through the integration of noninvasive neuromodulation, neuroimaging, and evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.
My Role: On the front-end, I administer the rTMS and MRI sessions interacting with study participants and record live data, ensuring the compliance of research protocol and participant safety at each step. On the back-end, I help with MRI-to-TMS image rendering utilizing brain image modeling and subject randomization softwares such as Brainsight and Pavlovia. I also develop Redcap questionnaires including MRI safety screening forms, register and consent participants via OnCore, and ensure proper and confidential management of personal health information data. It is always a delight to connect with participants throughout week-long trials, hearing their life stories and supporting their journey to quit smoking.
PAST
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Team Objectives: MLFM Lab explores interdisciplinary research topics to understand fundamental flow physics and human physiology, employing computational fluid dynamics, image processing, and deep learning AI techniques. Projects focus on computational physiology, such as airflow simulation in the respiratory tract associated with asthma or computer-aided diagnosis through deep learning mechanisms trained with medical images.
My Role: As part of the lab’s project team developing an AI program that can diagnose fatty liver based on medical images, I took part in training and testing a pre-existing demo model to improve its performance using convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning algorithms. I cleaned and sorted a visual data set of ultrasound and MRI images of fatty versus non-fatty liver with varying resolution qualities and scan angles to compile a training set. After training, I tested the model by modifying variables such as convolution layers, iterations, and pixel sizes for optimization of the diagnosis results. Our updated model achieved a preliminary accuracy rate of 90.9% in distinguishing fatty to non-fatty liver images.
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Team Objectives: HP Tech Ventures is the venture capital arm of HP Tech Inc. aiming to foster an ecosystem of innovation and reinvention through strategic partnerships and investments in disruptive technology sectors. Current areas of focus include generative AI, edge computing, and sustainability. Typical start-up investments are made at Series A/B.
My Role: As a student extern, I researched start-up metrics, business models, and product differentiation to construct market maps across the tech sector. After data analysis, I provided a live presentation to pitch a start-up recommendation upon the firm’s interest in start-ups developing AI-based productivity apps for further investment due diligence.
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Trends of chronic liver diseases by income level and socioeconomic factors in the United States: A population-based study
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Sep 2024Investigating disparities in smoking cessation treatment for veterans with multiple sclerosis: A national analysis
Brain and Behavior, May 2024Global treatment rate and barriers to direct-acting antiviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 146 studies and 1,760,352 hepatitis C virus patients
Liver International, Feb 2023Global and regional long-term survival following resection for HCC in the recent decade: A meta-analysis of 110 studies
Hepatology Communications, Mar 2022Increased Risk of Liver-Related Outcomes in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Digestive Diseases, Jan 2022COVID-19 Face Mask Accessibility for Immigrant Workers in the Busan-Gimhae Region: A Survey-Based Statistical Analysis
The Korean Society for Respiratory Protection (South Korean Government’s Ministry of Employment and Labor), Jul 2021NASH/Liver Fibrosis Prevalence and Incidence of Nonliver Comorbidities among People with NAFLD and Incidence of NAFLD by Metabolic Comorbidities: Lessons from South Korea
Digestive Diseases, Feb 2021
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The Liver Meeting 2023: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Trends of Chronic Liver Diseases by Income Level and Socioeconomic Factors in the U.S. National Population (Primary Author; Poster Presentation)
Annual Nicotine & Tobacco Science Conference 2023 : Rose Research Center
Investigating disparities in smoking cessation treatment for veterans with Multiple Sclerosis: A national analysis (Primary Author; Poster Presentation)
The Liver Meeting 2022: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Global Treatment Rate and Barriers to Direct Acting Antiviral (DAA) Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 179 Studies and 2,421,347 CHC Patients (Oral Presentation)
The Liver Meeting 2021: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Long-Term Overall and Recurrence-Free Survival Following Curative Surgical Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Recent Decade: A Meta-Analysis of 110 Studies and 82,392 Patients (Poster Presentation)
Meta-Analysis: Regional Differences in Outcomes of Surgical Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Poster Presentation)
Declining HBV Immunity Following HBV Vaccination During Childhood/Adolescence and Amnestic Response Rates to Booster: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Poster Presentation)
COVID-19 and Face Masks 2021 : The Korean Society for Respiratory Protection (South Korean Government’s Ministry of Employment and Labor)
COVID-19 Face Mask Accessibility for Immigrant Workers in the Busan-Gimhae Region: A Survey-Based Statistical Analysis (Primary Author; Poster Presentation)
Digestive Disease Week 2020: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
Development and Regression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Overall and in Selected Patient Cohorts: 32 Longitudinal Studies and 179,398 Asian Patients (Primary Author; Poster Presentation – Online)
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Incidence and Regression in South Korea: A Meta-Analysis of 32 Studies and 179,398 Studies (Primary Author; Poster Presentation – Online)
APASL 2020 : Asian-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Incidence and Regression in South Korea: A Meta-Analysis of 32 studies and 179,398 patients (Primary Author; Poster Presentation)
AWARDS AND HONORS
2020
British Biology Olympiad
Bronze Award
2023
2024
Duke URS Conference Grant
Undergraduate Research Symposium Presentation with $500 Award
USU Creative Awards: Music Division
Finalist for Exhibition at Verge Gallery Sydney, Australia
2021
2022
27th Samsung Humantech Paper Awards: Biology Division
Silver Award with $4,200 Prize
Berklee College of Music: Electronic Digital Instrument
Acceptance with $25,000 Annual Scholarship