• Hometown: Marion, IA
• Faculty/Mentor:  Sajan Goud Lingala, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
• What is the degree program and expected graduate date? Biomedical Engineering, Spring 2021
• Please describe your research: I work with quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by using Machine Learning to improve current reconstruction and modeling techniques.  The models I develop aim to improve MRI in several aspects (e.g. speed, accuracy), so that it can enable new applications (e.g. improved functional depiction of brain tumors, improved time resolutions in observing physiological processes such as someone speaking, swallowing).
• In simple terms, why does research matter? Research is important to the advancement of engineering, science, humanities, and the progress of the human race.  In healthcare, medical imaging forms an important tool for diagnosis and treatment planning. The research I do helps to improve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans by reducing scan time, improving its sensitivity and specificity to detect disease, and overall providing better value for the clinicians. This can significantly reduce costs to the patient, and allow safe MRI based techniques potentially replace current radiation-based imaging modalities.
• How soon after starting at the University of Iowa were you able to participate in research? I have always been interested in research and have done projects since high school. I joined Dr Lingala’s lab last year.
• How has being involved in research made you more successful at the University of Iowa? Research has shown me how the material I have learned in all the classes relates to the real world through cutting-edge technology.  I have also found the concepts learned in research to be helpful in my ongoing courses.
• What are your career goals and/or plans after graduation? I would like to pursue an MD and/or PhD while continuing my research with a focus on machine learning and radiology.  I would then like to continue my research into machine learning applied to bio-imaging and possibly teach.

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