My role as an ICUREUS participant was to perform statistical analysis and automate instruments. I developed multiple programs in R, MATLAB, and LabVIEW to analyze data that we obtained with an in-house microscope. As a result, a large portion of our data analysis steps have been streamlined.
My ICUREUS project directly relates to the design and implementation aspects of my course work. During the duration of the project, I created a framework for our group to interface key lab instruments. This solved problems of automation and coordination for instruments that were tasked to acquire data in sequence. I also implemented software to create better workflow by transforming acquired data so it could be analyzed with our algorithms.
The goal of this research is to classify various types of cancerous tumors to guide patient treatment in a clinical setting. The research work focuses on collecting spectral data from cancerous patient cells that respond differently to treatment, and finding classification models for these cells to determine the inherent causes of the varying treatment response.
During my time as an ICUREUS participant, I gained experience in a collaborative research setting, and improved my software and hardware skills. I have gained a strong set of analysis skills as a result of the responsibilities I was given in this group.
I would tell aspiring ICUREUS students to work effectively, and be confident in their own abilities. This is a great opportunity to gain a strong set of skills and experience in your field
Abrar Ahmad