Neuroengineering Graduate Student
Pittsburgh, PA
arielfeldman@cmu.edu
847-571-4660
Honors and Achievements
- Carnegie Prize in Mind and Brain Science PhD Fellow 2021-2022
- Vice President of Finance for Carnegie Mellon's Neuroscience Institute Student Organization
- Richard King Mellon Presidential Fellow 2020-2021
- Selected for Cornell NeuroNex REU program ($4600 stipend)
- Rice Undergraduate Scholars Research Grant ($2500 in total)
- Vice President of Rice Neuroscience Society
- Author on the first place winning Graduate Project at Rice University Electrical and Computer Engineering Affiliates Day
- Rice University representative for Neuroengineering research at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Presented a TEDx: RiceU talk on Women in Martial Arts and STEM
Software Skills
Python
Java
C/C++
MATLAB
Technical Skills
Multi-Threading and Parallel Processing
Microdrive Fabrication
CAD Design/3D Printing
Electronics Prototyping
Arduino
Raspberry Pi
Languages
English
Spanish (Español)
Hebrew (עברית)
Mandarin (普通话)
German (Deutsch)
Education
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant / Grover Lab & Neuromechatronics Lab
Aug 2020 - Current
I am currently advised by Dr. Pulkit Grover in the Grover Lab and Dr. Doug Weber in the Neuromechatronics Lab. My projects have included, but are not limited to:
- An information theoretic analysis of grid cell activity
- Electromyographic classification for control of spinal cord stimulation
- Determining the role of proprioception in executing precise, dynamic control
Research Assistant / Realtime Neural Engineering Lab
Jan 2017 - Jan 2020
I have spent the past four years working under the guidance of Dr. Caleb Kemere in the Realtime Neural Engineering Laboratory. During my time in the RNEL, I have contributed to the design and fabrication of a novel experimental paradigm, developed and trained a convolutional neural network for rodent video tracking, and collaborated with Dr. Jacob Robinson's lab. I led my own project to investigate machine learning methodologies for predicting sharp-wave ripple events in rodent hippocampal LFP, with the goal of improving state-of-the-art detection and disruption algorithms. For these projects specifically, I have developed in Python, C, C++ and MATLAB, using tensorflow and keras to build networks, and have worked extensively with animals via behavioral experiments and participating in implantation surgeries.
Research Assistant / Robinson Lab for Nano-Neurotechnology
Feb 2018 - Jan 2020
Design and manufacture of an original implant to test the functionality of a novel material from the Robinson Lab as a wireless stimulator in vivo , conducted numerous behavioral experiments (unpublished). Additionally, I analyzed motion data with a slightly modified version of DeepLabCut to determine efficacy of the stimulating material. Paper published in Neuron .
NSF-REU Fellow / Cornell NeuroNex
Jun 2019 - Aug 2019
I spent the summer of 2019 conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Mert Sabuncu and Dr. Jesse Goldberg at Cornell University regarding machine learning applications to identifying and characterizing budgie behavior using spatio-temporal data mining. While at Cornell, I also mentored several students in the Goldberg lab in computational methods they can apply to their work.
Teaching Experience
Hebrew Moreh
Sept 2021 - May 2022
Lesson planning and teaching 4th grade students level 2 Hebrew, in terms of vocabulary, grammar and prayer literacy at Temple Sinai.
STEM NOLA Course Developer & Instructor
Jan 2021 - Feb 2021
Taking the course I developed the previous summer, "Internet of Things (IOT) with Machine Learning and Python" with MantisEDU, and teaching middle school & high school students virtually via STEM NOLA ’s course offerings.
ELITE Tech Live Instructor
Jun 2020 - Aug 2020
Teaching "Internet of Things (IOT) with Machine Learning and Python" to high school students via Rice Center for Engineering Leadership's ELITE Tech Camp. I created course material, designed programming exercises and tutorials, and wrote lesson plans for the summer course.
Lovett College Academic Fellow
Mar 2018 - May 2020
Selected on behalf of the Rice University Office of Academic Advising on the basis of proven academic achievement and demonstrated willingness to help fellow students. I offer on-call aid in Computer Science, Neuroscience and paper writing (historical/STEM research) through weekly office hours, one-on-one tutoring, review sessions for several classes in my fields, and planning academic outreach events to engage students.
Lab Assistant for Fundamentals of Computer Engineering
Spring 2020
Responsibilities include: leading review sessions, creating exam review material, grading exams and projects, and holding weekly office hours to assist students in mastery of material. Check out some of the material I provide here.
Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Computational Thinking
Fall 2018
Responsibilities include: leading review sessions, creating exam review material, grading exams and projects, and holding weekly office hours to assist students in mastery of material. Check out some of the material I provide here.
Teaching Assistant for Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Fall 2017
Responsibilities include: leading review sessions, creating exam review material, grading exams and projects, and holding weekly office hours to assist students in mastery of material. Check out some of the material I provide here.