Introducing the Fall 2024 QBioS PhD Students

The Quantitative Biosciences Interdisciplinary PhD program at Georgia Tech was excited to welcome 14 new doctoral students to our program starting 2024-2025. This is a record high number of incoming students for our program, which first enrolled students in fall 2016. Here are some details about our newest cohort.

Sana Aminnaji completed her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering majoring in bioelectronics at Sharif University of Technology, Iran. She did a 9-month research internship on zebra finches sound discrimination in IPM, Iran. She plans to become a researcher and hopefully work on novel areas of learning in neuroscience, so she moved to U.S to join the QBioS PhD program. "I chose the QBioS program because for me, quantitative approaches are the greatest way to measure and understand Science."

Travis Harrison-Rawn graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, where he was mentored by Dr. Marcos Sotomayor. Under his guidance, Travis gained experience in both experimental and computational methods to investigate the relationship between protein structure, dynamics, and function, with a particular focus on the proteins that enable hearing. During that time, Travis became passionate about molecular dynamics simulations, which ultimately led him to pursue a PhD. Eager to continue his research in an innovative environment, Travis chose to attend Georgia Tech because of its cutting-edge work in his field. “QBioS felt like the perfect fit for me. I love how the program emphasizes interdisciplinary research. Using quantitative models to describe complex biological processes is incredibly exciting, and I’m confident that Georgia Tech is the ideal environment for me to grow as a scientist.” 

Ngoc Phuong Dung Ho earned her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from International University - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. During her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong interest in using computational simulations to study the structure, function, and dynamics of biological systems, particularly membrane proteins. She was fascinated by how these models provide valuable insights that can be leveraged for therapeutic development. Driven by a desire to further explore the underlying nature of biological events at atomic resolution, she decided to join the QBioS program at the Georgia Institute of Technology. According to Ngoc, "The QBioS program at Georgia Tech stood out to me not only because of the perfect alignment between my research interests and the faculty expertise but also due to its strong interdisciplinary nature. It allows me to push the boundaries between life sciences, mathematics, and computation, enabling me to study living systems through my own 'lens' - now with a more quantitative perspective.”

Sharon Kartika graduated from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India, in 2024 from an integrated BS-MS program in the life sciences, along with a minor in Computational and Data Sciences. He worked on understanding organismal locomotion at the micron and millimeter scales for his master’s research. He also studied computational tools in understanding cancer genetic networks and spatial influence on cancer evolution. "I was fascinated by the possibilities of applying computational and mathematical methods in understanding evolution in various contexts, and the QBios program, with its many experts in this area, was the perfect opportunity to study this in detail".

Casey King graduated from Clemson University in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in physics. During his undergraduate career, he worked in an ionospheric physics lab. He conducted research on the ionosphere by developing a high frequency chirpsounder, and he worked with a team to create a Langmuir (plasma) probe. However, Casey had always had an interest in biophysics. “QBioS is the right place to combine the experiences of my past with the interests of my future. The interdisciplinary nature of this program is unique, and there is great opportunity to do amazing science!”

Ryan Lowhorn graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2023 with a B.S. in Computer Science. He conducted research under Dr. Mohammed Chowdhury, concentrating on biostatistics and AI applications in epidemiology, bacteriology, and cardiology. He later served as a CDC fellow under Dr. Noelle Molinari, which further fueled his interest in bridging computational methods with pressing biological questions. In 2024, he joined the Quantitative Biosciences Ph.D. program at Georgia Tech, advised by Dr. Sam Brown, where he now explores quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and investigates how AI, causal inference, and microfluidic platforms can deepen our understanding of microbial communication. “I chose the QBioS program at Georgia Tech because it offers a truly interdisciplinary environment that allows me to leverage computational tools in tackling complex biological challenges.”

Elena Meigs graduated from Wake Forest University with a double major in Engineering and Biology. During her time as an undergraduate, she investigated cell membrane parameter shifts in Jurkat T-lymphocytes undergoing oxidative stress, which sparked an interest in conducting research at the next level. At Georgia Tech, she is interested in studying the biomechanics of organismal locomotion, bringing together her interest in biology with her foundation in physics and engineering principles. "I chose the QBioS program at Georgia Tech because I was excited about the interdisciplinary nature of the program, which spoke to my personal strengths and my desire to engage with research at the intersection of different fields. I am excited to work with so many amazing students and faculty doing inspiring work!"

Ankit Raj earned his BS-MS degree in Geological Sciences experience working on projects spanning Quantum Computation, Environmental Science, and Paleoecology. He views Paleontology as a detective’s job—where even the tiniest details preserved in rocks and fossils can reveal Earth's natural history. Insights from the fossil record can inform current conservation efforts amid the ongoing sixth biodiversity crisis. He enjoys applying computational methods to study paleoecology on large temporal and spatial scales. Ankit says, “QBios is the perfect place for me to receive interdisciplinary guidance and deeply explore the puzzles of natural history. Most importantly, one would be hard-pressed to find a work environment as vibrant and supportive as the QBioS community.”

Sidharth Srinivasan is a Computer Science Engineer, but he found his calling in birds. He earned a Master’s in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, studying bird-bamboo associations in the Eastern Himalaya for his dissertation. He is interested in uncovering the drivers of bird diversity on mountains and the effect of climate change on birds. He is excited to join Dr. Ben Freeman’s lab and the QBioS Program at Georgia Tech to further pursue his passion – “I chose the QBioS program for its rigorous quantitative training and its interdisciplinary nature – allowing me to use computational methods to study mountain birds and the impacts of climate change on them”. 

Malaika Taylor graduated from Oglethorpe University with a bachelor's degree in Biopsychology and a minor in Chemistry. As an undergraduate student, she found her love of biological physics through two custom projects that she completed in her Introductory Physics Lab course. The following semester, Malaika joined a ciliary biology lab, investigating the function of novel axonemal proteins. One of her projects was measuring and calculating the swimming speed and propulsive force of a C. reinhardtii null mutant to identify protein function. This project spurred an interest in comparing locomotion across scales and a hope for studying larger organisms. Through her search for programs, Malaika met a QBios graduate whose research background and interests aligned with her own interests of combining physics and biology to study organismal locomotion. This interaction led her to the Georgia Tech QBios program. "I chose the QBios program at Georgia Tech because I could explore different aspects of animal locomotion and learn more about modeling biological systems."

James (Zhaochen) Xu earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from University College London and his master’s degree in bioengineering from Columbia University. His research bridges the gap between robotics and biology, focusing on robotic locomotion, the physics of living systems, and neuromechanics. James says, “I was so lucky to be part of this vibrant, inclusive community that champions interdisciplinary collaboration. It brings together ideas from engineering, physics, and biology, making it an exciting place to learn. QbioS really helped me discover my passion for research.”

Jun Yang graduated from Tsinghua University with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Physics + Electrical Engineering. Fascinated by the idea of unveiling the neural mechanisms behind cognition via theoretical methods, he pursued research that introduced him to a wide range of quantitative methods in neuroscience, including computational modeling and electrophysiological data analysis. Before joining the QBioS program at Georgia Tech, he worked with Prof. Sukbin Lim at NYU Shanghai and Prof. Mayank R. Mehta at UCLA. Jun shares, "I chose the QBioS program at Georgia Tech because of its flexible curriculum, which is essential for interdisciplinary research like computational neuroscience."

Tingrui Zhang graduated from Peking University, China, in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences. During his undergraduate studies, he used computational modeling to explore how bacterial crowding drives competition and exclusion within populations. At Georgia Tech, he is diving deeper into the spatiotemporal dynamics of biofilms, combining experimental and computational approaches. He says, "I’m thrilled to be part of the QBioS program—it’s an inspiring place where I get to collaborate with brilliant minds from diverse fields and push the boundaries of interdisciplinary research."