Our Team
We value a diverse group of people who is passionate about our science and love pursuing scientific discovery through a journey of learning.
Meet our Team
Hamid Dehghani
Professor
Prof. Dehghani is interested in a number of multi and cross disciplinary projects working on the development of physical and computational sciences as applied to medical imaging. His research ranges from development of diffuse optical techniques, to computational tools assisting image guided interventions.
Rickson Mesquita
Associate Professor
Dr. Mesquita is interested in developing and combining instrumentation, computational methods, and biophysical modeling to study brain function, with a particular emphasis on diffuse optics. His research covers a broad spectrum of applications, from fundamental aspects of neurovascular coupling to the clinical translation of these innovative methodologies.
Felipe Orihuela-Espina
Associate Professor
Dr. Orihuela-Espina's research interest is in fNIRS data analysis and interpretation of neuroimages. This involves multidisciplinary research from computing (mainly) and mathematics and statistics. It also requires notions of physics (optics) and neuroscience. He is interested in applyting these neuroimaging analysis and interpretation skills to different topics, including; neurorehabilitation.
Samuel Montero-Hernandez
Assistant Professor
Dr. Montero-Hernandez's work primarily involves the development and application of computational models for causal discovery algorithms. In addition, Dr. Montero-Hernandez has an interest in brain connectivity methods, specifically utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data. He also contributes to developing algorithms for the quality control of fNIRS signals, ensuring the integrity and precision of the data used in his research. Recently, Dr. Montero-Hernandez’s investigation has found practical applications in resting state data analysis and pain management investigations.
Jiaming Cao
Research Fellow
Jiaming's research mainly concerns with algorithmic improvements to enable high accuracy imaging using DOT and EEG. He is currently working on the BioSMART project, where he is developing a deep learning based method for fluorescence DOT imaging of bioreactors. He is also a maintainer of the NIRFASTer toolbox. Before joining MI lab, Jiaming obtained his PhD degree in Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, advised by Prof. Jana Kainerstorfer and Prof. Pulkit Grover. Jiaming’s interest in optics and imaging also extends to photography, especially of the analog kind. He also likes to explore cooking different cuisines and is a guitar player.
Robin Dale
PhD candidate
Robin is a final year PhD student focussing on deep-learning techniques for diffuse optical imaging. His work involves developing and deploying real-time imaging and analysis tools, primarily for high-speed, non-invasive breast cancer monitoring. He has also done some work in cognitive neuroscience, including a study on the neuro-correlates of complex motor skill acquisition using wearable fNIRS. In his spare time Robin is a professional juggler, and writes and performs live theatre shows about science and philosophy.
Ben Fry
PhD student
Ben is a PhD student studying the instrumentation and data analysis algorithms for diffuse correlation spectroscopy and diffuse optical spectroscopy. With a background in mathematics and artificial intelligence, he is interested in the application of machine learning to improving optical parameters value recovery from DCS and DOS boundary data allowing the estimation of clinically relevant markers.
Robert Ward
PhD candidate
Rob enjoys cross-disciplinary science and finding general solutions that emerge from specific cases. With a physics background, Rob has worked on broadband NIRS systems, and the limitations faced in scalability. Recently, he has been undertaking projects on sampling design and optimization over non-typical spaces. Outside of university work, Rob enjoys playing in brass bands.
Biao (Rino) Zheng
PhD candidate
Biao (Rino) is interested in Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI) and neuroimaging, as well as any other life-extend related technologies. Currently, he is focusing on the data combination of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) for improving the localization of neuron activities. Furthermore, he wants to establish the pathway of recovering machine signal to brain neuro activities. Also, he enjoys playing piano and occasional concerts outside the work.
Joe Evans
Research Associate
Joe's current research is centred around the application of neural networks in diffuse optical imaging. As a masters student Joe looked at the effects of changing features of the training set for UNET deblurring of fDOT bioreactor imaging and their implications on generalizability. Currently he is working on using similar methodology on retinotopic DOT imaging. He also enjoys bouldering in competitions and outside on the rock.