Research Associate (November 2024 - Present)

Short Bio: Pauline John is a Research Associate with expertise in optical coherence tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy, focusing on the development of advanced optical imaging and sensing systems for biomedical applications. Her work addresses diagnostic challenges across oncology, cardiology, neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, diabetology, and non-destructive biochip investigation. Her research interests also include laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, flow cytometry, and the development of tissue-mimicking phantoms. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Optics from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), along with Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to joining LAB-π, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and an Assistant Professor at SSN College of Engineering, India.

Postdoctoral Associate (April 2023 - Present)

Short Bio: Soha Yousuf obtained her Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Khartoum, Sudan. She furthered her education by pursuing a master's degree at Masdar Institute and a Ph.D. degree at Khalifa University, both located in the United Arab Emirates. Her doctoral research concentrated on the investigation of optical sensors utilizing a silicon-on-insulator platform. Following her studies, she joined the Smart Materials Lab (SML) at NYUAD as a Postdoctoral Associate, where she specialized in the development of optical sensors based on organic crystals. Currently, her research is centered around advancing Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy techniques and applying machine learning methods for tissue classification.

Postdoctoral Associate (March 2024 - Present)

Short Bio: Soundararajan, with a Ph.D. from National Taiwan University in Photonics and Optoelectronics, was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California, Davis, where he contributed to pioneering biomedical imaging technologies and optical coherence tomography systems. His academic journey includes a Master's in Laser and Electro-Optical Engineering and a Master's in Physics. His professional path also encompasses significant industrial experience in photonics and optoelectronics. Soundararajan’s research endeavors are focused on designing and developing advanced optical imaging systems, such as swept-source/full-field optical coherence tomography, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, photoacoustic imaging systems, photodynamic therapy, and spectroscopic studies.

NYUAD Global PhD Student (Fall 2024 - Present)

Short Bio: Karadeniz is a PhD student in the Global PhD Fellowship program at New York University. After completing the first year of his doctoral studies at the NYU New York campus, he is now continuing his research at NYU Abu Dhabi in the Laboratory for Advanced Bio-Photonics and Imaging (LAB-π). His previous research focused on biomedical imaging, particularly the effects of focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening on astrocyte morphology. He holds a BEng in Biomedical Systems Engineering from the University of Warwick and an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Imperial College London. His current work centers on the use of photoacoustic imaging for investigating neurodegenerative disorders.

Undergraduate NYUAD, Summer 2023 - Present

Short Bio: Soyini Alexander is a second-year Jamaican student with plans to major in Bioengineering. During the summer of 2023, she began working as a Student Research Assistant in the Laboratory for Advanced Bio-Photonics and Imaging (Lab π) at New York University, Abu Dhabi. During her time there, she gained experience in Optical Coherence Tomography imaging, including its applications in microcirculation, doppler, and speckle modes, as well as Correlation mapping. Currently, she focuses on cell culture in the lab, which involves subculturing suspended adherent cells, thawing and freezing cells, preparing spheroids, creating 3D phantoms, and cryopreserving cells.

Undergraduate NYUAD, Summer 2023 - Present

Short Bio: Irfan Karukappadath is a second-year student at NYU Abu Dhabi, majoring in Computer Science with a focus on AI. Hailing from India, he harbors a deep passion for integrating Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence into healthcare. Committed to the idea that such advancements could serve as the foundation for equitable and universal healthcare systems, Irfan aims to contribute meaningfully to this evolving field. He is particularly excited about the multidisciplinary approach to solving complex healthcare problems. When he's not engrossed in academics or research, he enjoys cafe hopping, travelling, and passionately supporting Manchester United.

Undergraduate NYUAD, Summer 2024 - Present

Short Bio: Maimuna Yusuf is a third-year student majoring in Bioengineering. During the summer of 2024, she began volunteering in the Laboratory for Advanced Bio-Photonics and Imaging (Lab π) at New York University, Abu Dhabi. She is currently gaining experience in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and cell culture. Her main focus is to use imaging techniques in tissue engineering. She enjoys playing video games and prefers staying at home to outside activities.

Undergraduate NYUAD, Summer 2024 - Present

Short Bio: He is a rising junior studying Computer Science and Engineering. He calls himself a tech hobbyist as he often finds himself tinkering with electronics and gadgets. His passion centers around automation and its diverse applications, ranging from healthcare to art. He loves cooking as it offers him a wonderful avenue for exploration and experimentation. Additionally, he enjoys watching biopic movies and listening to music.

Undergraduate NYUAD, Summer 2024 - Present

Short Bio: She is a senior from Sri Lanka majoring in Bioengineering. She is deeply passionate about leveraging optics and biomedical approaches in healthcare, particularly in the fields of cancer research and treatment. Her current lab work focuses on using Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive detection, a technology with significant potential for improving both diabetes management and cancer detection. In her free time, Bushra enjoys swimming or reading thriller novels.

Undergraduate NYUAD, Spring 2025 - Present

Short Bio: Diperson is a rising junior, majoring in Bioengineering with a passion for research in biomedical imaging and spectroscopy. His current work explores the use of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for analyzing soft and hard tissue composition, particularly in atherosclerotic plaques. Previously, he worked on Photoacoustic Microscopy (PAM), gaining experience in high-resolution imaging techniques for biomedical applications. Outside of the lab, he enjoys stand-up comedy, exploring cities through street photography, and hiking and trekking back in his home country of Nepal.

Undergraduate NYUAD, Spring 2025 - Present

Short Bio: Sevinch Rakhmon-Zoda is a fourth-year student majoring in Bioengineering. She recently joined the team to build a predictive model that links OCT‐derived metrics directly to tissue stiffness for a better understanding of tumor progression. Outside of the lab, Sevinch is passionate about art, music, and cinema. Her dream is to combine her creative passions with bioengineering to create living artworks within biological systems.