CV

Technical Skills

R, Python, SQL, Bash, SAS (basic), MATLAB, C#, C, Java, JavaScript, Git, Docker

Education

• Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA (2021 - Present)
• Master of Biostatistics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA (2019 - 2021)
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan (2013 - 2017)

Work experience

• Graduate Research Assistant - University of Iowa, Iowa city, IA (2021 - Present)
  • Studying the association between quantitative computed tomography (QCT) -derived textures and all-cause mortality in two major multi center observational studies named SPIROMICS and COPDGene
  • Worked on data analysis pipeline to study QCT-derived biomarkers and their correlation with plasma biomarkers of systemic inflammation
  • Worked on a deep learning architecture to predict severe exacerbations from computed tomography (CT) images in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients
  • Worked on a statistical analysis pipeline to classify symptomatic and asymptomatic tobacco-exposed people with preserved spirometry
• Research Intern - The Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC (2020)
  • Worked on a statistical analysis pipeline to unveil the effects of preexisting CMV immunity on vaccine specific cellular and humoral responses and the risk of HIV acquisition in HVTN 505 Phase IIb Human Vaccine Efficacy Trial
• Curriculum Developer - United We Reach, Lahore, Pakistan (2018 - 2019)
  • Collaborated with coordinators of more than 500 primary schools across Pakistan to enhance the current curriculum of science and mathematics
  • Transformed the computer science curriculum by adding modern programming languages for children like Scratch. For higher grades, incorporated basic Python coding exercises
• Team lead - Biomedical Informatics Research Lab, Lahore University of Management Science, Lahore, Pakistan (2018)
  • Initiated Phase II of Theatre for in silico Oncology (TISON) – a multiscale cancer systems modeling and simulation web platform
  • Worked with biologists towards incorporating more features to enhance the overall desirability of the software platform
  • Developed and revamped three out of seven scales (Cell circuit design, Phenotype design, Tissue design) of the platform
  • Implemented the simulation engine of the platform by integrating data from all the scales
  • Trained a new team of four fresh undergraduate students and accelerated the development process by dividing scales among them
• Research Associate - Biomedical Informatics Research Lab, Lahore University of Management Science, Lahore, Pakistan (2017 - 2018)
  • Contributed towards the development of MATLAB-based Attractor Landscape Analysis Toolbox for Cell Fate Discovery and Reprogramming (ATLANTIS) and later enhanced the performance of the toolbox
  • Developed the manuscript for the toolbox with my team and independently worked on supplementary material and user manual for the toolbox and later executed the rebuttal process with my team and dealt with a major revision within 30 days
• Research Intern - Biomedical Informatics Research Lab, Lahore University of Management Science, Lahore, Pakistan (2016 - 2017)
  • Gained proficiency in software development over the summer and familiarized myself with the latest trends and practices in the world of web development
  • Initiated Phase I of Theatre for in silico Oncology (TISON) – a multiscale cancer systems modeling and simulation web platform and worked on cell circuit design scale to familiarize myself with the underlying software practices and later broadening my knowledge about the biology of cell cycles
• Research Intern - University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan (2015 - 2016)
  • Worked on a Linux based platform (Ubuntu) towards the development of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data analysis pipeline

Relevant Courses

• University of Iowa
  Digital Image Processing, Medical Imaging Physics, Quantitative Study of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems, Applied Machine Learning, Multi-dimensional Image Analysis, Human Physiology, Mathematics of Machine Learning

• Duke University
  Introduction to Statistical Theory & Methods I & II, Applied Biostatistical Methods I & II, Introduction to the Practice of Biostatistics I & II, Software Tools for Data Science, Introduction to Statistical Programming II, Biostatistics Career Preparation and Development I & II, Statistical Methods for Learning and Discovery, Survival Analysis, Generalized Linear Models, Introduction to Real Analysis (Audit), Categorical Data Analysis, Analysis of Correlated and Longitudinal Data, Observational Studies

• University of Engineering & Technology
  Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Digital Logic Design, Applied Biology, Signals and Systems, Data Structures, Scientific Computing, Applied Probability and Statistics, Control Systems, Data Mining, Introduction to Machine Learning, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Honors & Awards

• Awarded the Jerold O. Dock & Jacqueline R. (Peterson) Engineering Fellowship (2023) for excellent academic achievements in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Iowa
• Awarded the prestigious Carver Fellowship to pursue PhD in Biomedical Engineering at The University of Iowa
• Awarded best master’s project award (data science category) by the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Duke University
• Awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study Biostatistics at Duke University
• Granted 2nd prize for TISON - Theatre for in silico Oncology among 350 other projects at the DICE Mega Innovation Summit
• Awarded Student Research Grant for the project, “Diagnostic Tests for Cancer (now TISON)”, by the National Grassroots ICT Research Initiative
• Awarded Dean’s Honor Roll for Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan