School of Medicine
Showing 1-49 of 49 Results
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MacKenzie Bolen
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioDr. MacKenzie “Mack” Bolen’s defining research passion is to leverage accessible and modifiable lifestyle factors to mitigate neurodegenerative risk. During her undergraduate education at Austin College in Texas, she began pursuing her interest in neurodegeneration by conducting research focused on the neuroprotective benefits of the ketogenic diet. This work evolved into an honors thesis investigating markers of inflammation in saliva from contact sport athletes and culminated in a TEDx talk on sports-related brain injuries. These experiences cemented her desire to understand the minutiae of the brain and catalyzed her decision to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Florida (UF). During Mack’s training under Dr. MG. Tansey at UF, her dissertation work generated global collaborations centered on a multiomic approach that leverages machine learning to identify peripheral biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets to slow the onset or progression of Parkinson’s disease. A hallmark of Mack’s career has been participating in collaborative team science and mentorship of the next generation of scientists, where she has consistently mentored advanced and budding scientists within the Gainesville community and collaborated on several manuscripts from labs across the nation. In addition to her scholarly work, she regularly volunteered at the UF Neuromedicine Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU) while pursuing her Ph.D. to better understand the clinical perspective of neurodegeneration.
By blending her Ph.D. training and experiences in the Neuro ICU, Mack hopes to actively improve the treatment of individuals living with neurodegeneration and continue to push the frontier of medicine as a postdoctoral scholar in Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford. Now under the mentorship of Dr. K. Poston, Mack will continue to access essential training at the intersection of immunology and Parkinson’s disease, via the investigation of the gut-brain axis. As a former collegiate soccer player, Mack loves to pretend to relive her glory days during rec-league on the weekends and can also be found struggling through a Yin yoga class. -
Yiming Gan
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioDr. Yiming Gan is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Neurology. He earned his B.S. degree in Modern Mechanics from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2019 and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 2024, where his research focused on the experimental measurement and computational modeling of cerebrospinal fluid flow and the glymphatic system. After graduation, he joined Stanford University as a postdoctoral scholar in the Pediatric Neurostimulation Laboratory (Baumer Lab) and the Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute. His research interests span biomarkers for epilepsy (functional connectivity), cerebral drug delivery, and Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy.
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Praneeta R. Konduri
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioDr. Konduri is a Postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences. With a background in biomedical engineering, she conducted her PhD research as part of a European consortium that developed computational stroke models, while also analyzing post-treatment brain tissue damage from multicenter clinical trials to assess prognosis. After completing her PhD, she continued as a Postdoctoral Researcher within the European consortium GEMINI, that aimed to implement digital twins for personalized stroke treatment. At the Stanford Stroke Center, she now focusses on developing AI tools for stroke diagnosis, treatment evaluation, prognostication, and personalized treatment development.
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Junyoung Park
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioDr. Jun Young graduated from the Department of Biostatistics at the School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Korea. His major field of study is biostatistics, with a specific focus on the application of machine learning and statistical analysis to medical imaging and genetic data. During his doctoral studies, he concentrated on two primary research areas. Firstly, he dedicated himself to the development of deep learning models for medical images, primarily centered on T1-MRI and cognitive function test images related to Alzheimer's Disease. Secondly, he engaged in extensive genome-wide association analyses of medical images associated with Alzheimer's Disease, using statistical algorithms to uncover novel insights into the genetic factors contributing to this complex condition. Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow at the Greicius Lab at Stanford, he aims to develop statistical methods to discover novel structural variants and model polygenetic risk scores using long-read sequencing data.
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Xiwei She
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioDr. Xiwei She is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Neurology. He received his B.S. degree in Computer Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2013, and his M.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Zhejiang University in 2016. Worked as a research assistant at the USC Neural Modeling and Interface Laboratory, he received his Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 2022. After graduation, he joined Stanford University as a postdoctoral scholar at the Pediatric Neurostimulation Laboratory (Baumer Lab) and Wu Tsai Neuroscience Institute.
His research interests are largely directed toward identifying the causal relationship of neurons/brain regions and understanding how information is encoded in neural signals by employing machine learning models. Specifically, his postdoc research focuses on applying machine learning modeling techniques on EEG and TMS-EEG data to better understand the impact of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on brain activity in children with childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (CECTS). -
Hulya Torun
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioHulya Torun is a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford Neurology and Neurological Sciences, continuing her specialization in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering. Her focus involves brain aging & neurodegeneration and diagnostic technologies for the accurate detection of brain tumors and diseases. Hulya is dedicated to making significant contributions to medicine through translational research using engineering techniques and artificial intelligence. Notably, she has been selected as Stanford Representative for a Pediatric Brain Tumor Fellowship Application, a finalist for the Stanford Biodesign MEDTech Spectrum Grant, and the recipient of the Stanford Cancer Institute Mikitani Cancer Research Grant as a Co-PI, OPTICA Zuegel Scholarship, ISEV 2024 International Researcher Award, 1st place in KUIMPACT 2023 Patent Competition, SNO 2023 International Outreach Scholar Award, 3rd place in KUIMPACT 2021 Patent Competition, and SPIE Student Travel Grant, underscoring her commitment to impactful translational research through innovation.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Hulya actively engages in mentorship programs, notably serving as a mentor in the Stanford Canary CREST Program, supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where she guides undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, she holds the esteemed position of President of Stanford Optical Society after her former position as the Co-Chair of the Stanford University Photonics Retreat (SUPR 2024), showcasing her leadership capabilities within the academic community. Her multidimensional engagement, strong research acumen, and dedication to advancing healthcare technology underscore her potential as a future leader in the realm of neuroengineering. Outside of her research endeavors, Hulya is an avid participant in professional extracurricular activities such as dancing and volleyball, reflecting her well-rounded approach to personal and professional development. -
Gil Vantomme
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioGil Vantomme, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University
Dr. Vantomme is a neuroscientist specializing in electrophysiology and neural circuit dynamics. His research focuses on understanding the role of thalamocortical networks in cognition and neurological disorders, including epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders. Leveraging innovative in vitro and in vivo electrophysiological assays, Dr. Vantomme investigates the mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits and explores novel therapeutic strategies, including drug development and neuromodulation. -
Marwa Zafarullah
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurology and Neurological Sciences
BioDr. Marwa Zafarullah is a dedicated neuroscientist with extensive interdisciplinary experience spanning over 8 years in clinical and pre-clinical research. She holds a Ph.D. in Integrative Genetics and Genomics (IGG) from the University of California Davis, focusing on neuroscience, human genetics, and functional genomics. Before joining Stanford, Dr. Zafarullah harnessed the power of molecular biology with advanced technologies to delve into biomarkers related to the prediction, development, progression, and severity of Fragile X Syndrome and associated disorders.
Dr. Zafarullah's career journey reflects her commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, improving patient care, and positively impacting society through her research and contributions. She thrives in multi-disciplinary teams, aiming to enhance the quality of life for all individuals affected by various neurological conditions. Beyond her professional endeavors, she enjoys communicating complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. Her continuous pursuit of excellence and her drive to bridge clinical practice and scientific innovation make her a true trailblazer in the field.
