Current Scholars
ARCS Foundation Pittsburgh is honored to present awards to outstanding scholars chosen by the scholar selection committee at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh Chapter Scholar receives $15,000 in support, payable over three years at $5,000 per year, or until the completion of his or her doctoral degree, whichever comes sooner, provided the scholar maintains established criteria for continuation.
- I am investigating over/under expression of profilin1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using in vitro models.
- Overexpression of profilin1 is correlated with poor prognosis in RCC.
- Improving our understanding of how changes in profilin1 levels affect RCC progression may suggest novel therapeutic methods.
The Pittsburgh Chapter Award
Carnegie Mellon University
College of Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Personal: I play the guitar and drums, and I was a percussionist in the Wind Ensemble at Calvin College.
Research: Developing different cameras and imaging systems to solve complex imaging problems.
-
I am currently researching the application of a light-field camera to generate high-resolution reflectance maps of different objects in a scene, which can be used for fine-grain material detection of objects in the scene, among other things.
- Researching high dimensional constrained planning to improve information gain
- Developing methods for automatic data understanding
- I will use premature infant temperature patterns during artificial heat disruption to predict the onset of cold stress and hypothermia.
- I will investigate the short term and long term outcomes of cold stress and hypothermia in premature infants.
- Granted the Corrine M. Barnes scholarship through the University of Pittsburgh- School of Nursing
- NIH T32 Technology Predoctoral Fellow
- In my current laboratory rotation, I am studying the effects of adropin analogs on glucose metabolism, and looking at whether adropin treatment may be beneficial in cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.
Personal: The past two summers I traveled to Japan for 2 weeks. Both times it was absolutely incredible and I implore anyone else who has the means to go visit.
University of Pittsburgh
Medical Scientist Training Program
Personal: I play soccer and enjoy traveling
Research: I study how neural activity and hemodynamic signals in the brain’s visual system are related to inform better diagnostics and treatment of brain disorders and injuries.
- I am working on photo-catalyzed hydrogen evolution reactions in parallel, and using machine learning to identify a structure functional relationship in photosensitizers.
- These systems will allow us to produce clean hydrogen fuel using only sunlight.
Awards/recognition since becoming an ARCS Scholar:
- Joseph A. Solomon Memorial Fellowship
Carnegie Mellon University
- I am analyzing experimental data to determine how different task contexts affect learning and neural variability.
- These results hope to elucidate the role of neural “noise” in motor activity and may provide principles for accelerated neural rehabilitation and brain computer interface implementation in the future.
- First year rotations have included studying gene silencing in a bipolar model, circuitry underlying OCD-related behaviors in mice, and GABA neurotransmission.
- I will be using in vivo multiphoton calcium imaging and electrophysiology to investigate how electrical stimulation affects neural and glial populations.
- Investigating and characterizing the neurobiological response to electrical stimulation can help us learn more about neural circuits, movement disorders, and eventually develop implantable prosthetic devices to restore vision or somatosensation.
Awards/recognition since becoming an ARCS Scholar:
- Department of Bioengineering Bevier Award
Research: Finding optimal investment strategies in stochastic market models, especially the effects of market frictions such as transaction costs or liquidy constraints. This will help to understandhow policies such as transaction taxes may impact the market.
Content being updated
The Susan and Roy Dorrance Award
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Institute of Technology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
The Pittsburgh Chapter Award
Carnegie Mellon University
School of Computer Science
Human-Computer Interaction Institute
Personal: In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my dog, Indiana, playing video games, and teaching traditional Filipino folk dance. I also enjoy learning new languages, both computer and human.
Research: I study how computer-mediated games and immersive experiences can be designed to empower marginalized individuals. This research involves how play can provide not only enjoyment but also offer new experiences and perspectives. Currently, I am iteratively developing and evaluating a game designed to help undergraduate women of color studying STEM form and utilize peer networks for community-based help-seeking.
The Gookin Family Foundation ARCS Pittsburgh Endowed Award
Carnegie Mellon University
Mellon College of Science, Department of Physics
The Professor Virgil D. Gligor and Alicia M. Avery ARCS Pittsburgh Endowed Scholar Award
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Institute of Technology
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Meadowcroft-Mooney-Stockman Award
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering
The Susan and Roy Dorrance ARCS Scholar Award
Carnegie Mellon University
School of Computer Science, Department of Computational Biology, Biological Sciences
The Susan and Roy Dorrance ARCS Scholar Award
Carnegie Mellon University
Mellon College of Science, Department of Mathmatical Sciences
Additional information coming soon