Lab Members
Principal Investigator
- Ulrike Dydak
- Associate Professor
- Director, Purdue Life Sciences MRI Facility
- Ph.D., ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Email: udydak@purdue.edu
Current Members
Ph.D. Students
- Humberto Monsivais
- Ph.D. Candidate
- Email: hmonsivais@purdue.edu
- I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University ('15) with a bachelor's degree in physics and minors in math and engineering. After graduation, I entered the workforce and worked as a medical physicist assistant at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. This is where I fell in love with the field of medical physics and medical imaging. Currently, I am a medical physics Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Dydak's lab working on developing and validating multiparametric quantitative MRI (qMRI) techniques for studies on manganese neurotoxicity and addiction.
- Gianna Nossa
- Ph.D. Candidate
- Email: gnossa@purdue.edu
- After graduating from Purdue in 2017 with my B.S. in Neurobiology and Physiology and minor in Spanish, I took two gap years where I worked at the Beckman Institute at City of Hope doing cancer immunotherapy research. I learned a lot during these years but decided cancer research wasn’t for me. I’m currently a PhD candidate in the PULSe Interdisciplinary Life Science Program with a concentration in Integrative Neuroscience. My current research is focused on the optimization and application of edited and unedited magnetic resonance spectroscopy sequences in order to quantify metabolites in various disorders, such as manganese neurotoxicity, postpartum depression, and PTSD.
- Brian Bozymski
- Ph.D. Candidate
- Email: bbozymsk@purdue.edu
- I graduated from Indiana University ('20) with bachelor's degrees in physics and math and a minor in economics. Looking for a career which applies careful calculations and interesting science to real-world people and problems, I entered the medical physics program at Purdue University. In Dr Dydak's lab, I am working on using proton and X-nuclei (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy biomarkers for early, noninvasive detection of cancer metabolism.
Affiliate Students
- Chang Geun Lee
- Ph.D. Candidate
- Email: lee3124@purdue.edu
- I received my BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineering from Yonsei University, Korea ('06 and '09). After three years of military service as a specialized research agent, I worked for LG Electronics, Inc. for 7 years to develop refrigerators and water purifiers. Working on several hygiene projects, my interest in health outcomes from contaminants exposure has grown up which made me pursue Ph.D. degree in Health Sciences. My current research is focused on exposure to welding fumes that could cause neurotoxicity. Analysis of toenails as a biomarker of the exposure is also my topic of interest.
Master's Students
- Nathan Ooms, R.T.(R)(MR)
- M.S. Student
- Email: naooms@purdue.edu
- I have been working as an MRI technologist since 2014 handling both GE and Siemens machines at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, Community Hospital in Greenwood, University Hospital in Indianapolis, St Elizabeth Hospital in Lafayette, and the Purdue MRI Facility. I started working towards my Master's in Medical Physics in 2021 and also assist in research with Cook Medical.
- Chia-Tien Hsu
- M.S. Student
- Email: hsu316@purdue.edu
- I received my BS and MS degrees in Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences in Taiwan. After working in the field of health physics for a few years, I found that I could not forget how interesting and charming medical imaging is. Therefore, I decided to join Dr. Dydak's lab and pursue an advanced knowledge of medical physics at Purdue University.
Staff
- Cora Mizimakoski
- Human Subject Research Coordinator
- Email: cmizimak@purdue.edu
- I graduated with a degree in Neurobiology and Physiology (BS) with a minor in Spanish from Purdue University in 2023. I started my career with Purdue in the summer of 2023 and joined Dr. Dydak’s MRI lab in the school of Health and Human Sciences. In my role I recruit, screen, and schedule study participants while also assisting with the data collection.
Undergraduate Students
- Lissette Aguiar
- Email: laguiar@purdue.edu
- I am an undergraduate freshman majoring in Biomedical Health Science on a Pre-Medicine track. In the following years, I plan to complete a minor in Forensic Science as well as a minor in Spanish. As part of the Undergraduate Honors Research Program, I had the opportunity to join Dr. Dydak’s lab in the second semester of my freshman year. Within her lab, I will study potential sex differences and age correlations related to metal exposures in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex.
Previous Members
Visiting Scholars and Post-Doc's
- Elham Azizi M.D.
- Visiting Research Scholar 2015-2016
- I received my M.D. from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. I joined Dr. Dydak’s lab in 2015. I am looking forward to continue my education in the neurology residency. I am always fascinated by the neuroscience and working in this lab gives me the chance to learn more about this field.
- Jun Xu, Ph.D.
- Postdoctoral fellow 2009-2013
- Ph.D. Chemistry, Purdue University
- Research topics: Fast spectroscopic imaging, sutomatic processing of MRSI, MRS in biopolar disorder
Ph.D. Students
- Antonia Susnjar
- Ph.D. 2023
- Clinical Applications of MRS
- Ahmad Alhulail
- Ph.D. 2020
- Fat and Sodium Quantification and Correlation by MRSI
- D. Alex Edmondson
- Ph.D. 2019
- Identifying Imaging Biomarkers for Mn Toxicity in Occupationally Exposed Welders
- Eric Cameron
- Ph.D. 2018
- Differentiation and Evaluation of Disease Progression in Essential Tremor Utilizing MRI Biomarkers
- Chien-Lin (Linda) Yeh
- Ph.D. 2017
- Quantitative MRI to Study in vivo Brain Mn Deposition and Neurotoxicity
- Eric Ward
- Ph.D. 2017
- Exposure to Metal Mixtures in Welding Fume: Effects on Neurological Functions
- Rouyun (Emily) Ma
- Ph.D. 2015
- I came to Dr. Dydak's group for my Doctoral degree in 2012 with a B.S. in Physics from Peking University, China. My current project is to study the change of brain GABA level as a result of manganese exposure with the help of MR Spectroscopy Imaging. Neuroscience is fantastic. I really enjoy the process of 'mapping the metabolites in human brain'.
- Shalmali T. Dharmadhikari Ph.D.
- Ph.D. 2015
- I got my M.S. in Biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa. My interests include MR imaging and spectroscopy techniques. After becoming a member of Dr.Dydak's lab, I became interested in the project for evaluating Mn toxicity using novel MRS methods. Since then, I have been working on application of GABA MR spectroscopy techniques in disorders like bruxism and animal models of Mn-exposure.
- Tony Clevenger Ph.D.
- Ph.D. 2015
- I received my B.S. in Physics from the University of Louisville in May of 2008. After graduation I immediately moved into my new role as a Physics graduate student at Purdue University. A few years later I obtained my M.S. in Physics. Since I joined Dr. Dydak's lab in 2012, I have begun to work on novel Phosphorous-31 MRS techniques in hopes of making strides into implementing them into the clinic to assist doctors in their treatment of patients.
- Victoria N. Poole Ph.D.
- Ph.D. 2014
- After graduated from Oakwood University with a B.S. in Chemistry and Minor in Mathematics in 2009, I was awarded the George Washington Carver Fellowship at Purdue to pursue doctoral work in the Interdisciplinary BioMedical Sciences Program. I joined the labs of my co-mentors, Drs. Thomas Talavage and Ulrike Dydak and am working on tracking neuro-metabolic changes in impaired contact-sport athletes.
- Scott Jones, Ph.D. LCDR, MS, DABR
- Ph.D. 2013
- Ph.D. Thesis: 3D 31P MRSI Of Human Liver: A Spatially Resolved Study Of Normal And Malignant Tissue In Response To Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
- Current Position:
- Deputy Director, Translational Imaging Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
- Assistant Professor, Radiology, Uniformed Services University
- Zaiyang Long Ph.D.
- Ph.D. 2013
- I earned my B.S. in Biological Sciences, M.S. in Biophysics at University of Science and Technology of China and Ph.D. in Medical Physics at Purdue. I was very excited to join Dr. Dydak's lab in 2009 to study the anatomy/biochemistry of human brain non-invasively. My research interest focuses on in vivo GABA quantification and its applications in manganese neurotoxicity and movement disorders.
- Anshuman Panda Ph.D.
- Ph.D. 2012
- M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of NYU
- Ph.D. Thesis: Fast 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging Of The Liver: Clinical Implementation And Applications In Post-Radiation Therapy Response Monitoring
- Current Position: MR Physicsit and Instructor in Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
- Judy Rose James Ph.D.
- Ph.D. 2009
- Ph.D. Thesis: MR Thermometry with Paramagnetic Lanthanide Complexes and its Applications at 9.4-Tesla and Development of Clinical Sodium (23Na) MRI at 3-Tesla
- Current Position: Assistant Professor of Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging Physicist, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
Master's Students
- Andrew Wright
- M.S. 2017
- Adam Davis
- M.S. 2017
- Ashritha Epur
- M.S.
- Research Project Manager at Case Western Reserve University/ Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Bachelor of Technology in Biomedical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India
- Tyler Blackwell
- M.S.
- Medical Physicist at Northwest Medical Physics Center
- B.A. in Physics, University of Montana
- Rahul Srinivasa Raghavan
- M.S.
- Financial Developer at Ronin Capital.
- Jonathan Nixon
- M.S.
- Agronomic Improvement Specialist, Dow AgroSciences
Undergraduate Students
- Philip Durham
- Email: durham14@purdue.edu
- I'm an undergraduate senior majoring in radiological health sciences with a pre-medical physics concentration. After graduating in 2023, I joined Dr. Scarpelli's lab to finish my MS in Medical Physics.
- Lauren Stucky
- Email: stuckyl@purdue.edu
- I'm an undergraduate sophomore in the Department of Biological Sciences, double majoring in "Neurobiology and Physiology" and "Spanish." I am also minoring in Mathematics. I joined Dr. Dydak's lab in August 2020. I am currently researching the effect of Manganese on neuropsychological function in welders.
- Grace Francis
- Email: franci51@purdue.edu
- I got to join Dr. Dydak's lab in 2020 during my second semester of freshman year. I'm an applied physics major with a focus on medical physics and a minor in Radiological Health Sciences. My time in the lab has been spent placing ROIs on MRI images and searching for correlations with brain metal level markers. I am entering my senior year and will be applying to graduate school to continue in medical physics.
- María Alejandra Martínez
- Email: mart2410@purdue.edu
- I am a senior psychology student from the National University of Colombia in Bogotá. I joined Dr. Dydak’s lab in Fall of 2022 thanks to the UREP-C program (Undergraduate Research Experience Purdue-Colombia) and worked investigating metal deposition in the cerebellum using MRI and MRS data. My experience in the lab was absolutely enriching and challenging. I am interested in using neuroimaging methods to study different neuropsychiatric conditions, so currently I am looking for doctoral opportunities.
- Courtney Oare
- B.S. 2017
- I joined Dr. Dydak's lab in the spring of 2014 as a freshman studying Radiological Health Science. My project was a volumetric analysis, focusing on grey matter atrophy and associations to motor function in Parkinson's Disease patients with the use of MRI. I graduated from Purdue in the spring of 2017, and am now pursuing a PhD in Medical Physics at the University of Minnesota.
- Michael Sencaj
- B.S. 2017
- I joined Dr. Dydak's Lab during the spring semester of 2016. I was involved in a project collecting and analyzing phantom and in vivo data for scanner quality assurance. I got my B.S. in Health Sciences from Purdue University in May of 2017 and I am planning on attending medical school.
- Paul Branham
- B.S.
- B.S. in Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University
