About Me

I leverage machine learning, data science, and interdisciplinary teamwork to address real-world problems. I love researching solutions for people with neurological disorders, and addressing challenges faced by communities with limited access to essential resources. I’m enthusiastic about collaborating with the people who the solutions are intended for in my work.

While earning my Ph.D. in Computer Science, I joined a team prototyping solutions to advance research in automated Deep Brain Stimulation therapy in the home–an important therapy for people living with neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. This experience taught me the value of grounding research in the local context and lived experiences of the people it aims to benefit. End-users are traditionally excluded from the research team in fields such as clinical neurology or neural engineering. Yet, these people hold unique expertise about their symptoms, living environments, and ultimately their actual needs. While incorporating their expertise may not always make for the most straight-forward research pipeline, I believe there is no better expert to co-research with than those directly impacted. You can read more about these perspectives and the research they stem from in my dissertation (see Chapters 4 and 5).

My path to a Ph.D. in Computer Science was far from straightforward. I grew up cooking for a family of 8 people every day, and after high school I made a career as a pastry chef. The people I encountered in kitchens usually came from very different backgrounds from those I’ve met in academia. Hearing countless stories from people who wanted to create changes in their lives but lacked the resources or information to know how spurred in me a desire to pursue higher education and find a way to better empower myself and others. I believe my background in both the arts and the sciences has given me valuable skills and perspectives that I love sharing with the world. You can hear more about my beginnings on my podcast interview. 

When I’m not ideating on new projects, my favorite thing to do is talking to people, closely followed by traveling the world, dancing Argentine tango, consuming musical theatre, and re-reading Harry Potter for the fifty-millionth time. Send me a note to chat projects or just say hi!