My present work focuses on the development of high-resolution, chronically implantable neuroprostheses for the visual cortex, with the goal of restoring a rudimentary form of vision in blind people. This spans the fields of neurotechnology, BCIs, vision research, and primate electrophysiology.
In my earlier work, I examined how mechanisms of plasticity are implemented within several regions in the visual cortex, allowing us to improve at making fine perceptual judgments. I also studied the effects of feature-selective attention on spiking activity in middle temporal cortex, examining modulations that arise when one concentrates on identifying the colour of an object, as opposed to when one attends to its direction of motion.
Work experience:
2014-present Postdoctoral researcher, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience
Education:
2014 PhD, Newcastle University, UK
Thesis title: Perceptual learning of contrast discrimination and its neural correlates in macaque V4 & V1.
2008 BA in Neuroscience, University of Southern California, USA,
Honors in Multimedia
Awards and bursaries:
2018 Best Poster Award (Neurotechnology category), Amsterdam Neuroscience Meeting, Netherlands
2016 STW Perspectief grant (€1.78M) for NESTOR visual cortical prosthesis, Netherlands
2014 Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds travel grant, Germany
2014 Research Associate travel grant, Newcastle University
2012 British Neuroscience Association travel stipend award, UK
2008-2014 PhD studentship, Medical Research Council, UK
2008 Discovery Scholar, University of Southern California
2008 Global Scholar, University of Southern California
2007 Gold Family Scholarship
2004-2008 Trustee Scholar (full tuition scholarship), University of Southern California
2004-2008 Scholar, Media Development Authority of Singapore
Study abroad:
Summer 2007 Cambridge summer semester, UK
Spring 2007 Beijing semester abroad, China