Research Technician, Adie Lab, Cornell University · Ithaca, NY, USA
I study how optical coherence tomography signals relate to tissue structure in the brain, combining quantitative signal analysis, neuroimaging workflows, and biological validation.
Biomedical optics and photonics, with a focus on optical coherence tomography, light scattering in biological tissue, and structure-function relationships in the brain.
1300 nm OCT
Quantitative OCT of brain tissue
Analyzing depth-dependent OCT A-line profiles to understand how scattering-driven contrast varies across brain regions and what structural features the signal represents.
Conducts ex vivo brain imaging using 1300 nm OCT.
Studies region-wise structural differences, including white matter versus gray matter.
Implements dispersion compensation and Fourier-domain reconstruction to improve depth-resolved signal consistency.
Investigates relationships between scattering behavior and underlying tissue structure.
Illustrative swept-source OCT sample arm at 1300 nm, imaging ex vivo brain tissue.
Where it goes
Relate quantitative OCT signal behavior to underlying tissue structure and regional differences in the brain.
In vivo / ex vivo workflow
In vivo neuroimaging and biological validation
Builds experimental workflows that connect optical imaging with small-animal disease models and histological ground truth.
Established and leads the lab's small-animal neuroimaging model workflow.
Rewrote and executes IACUC protocols for 5xFAD Alzheimer's and GL261 glioblastoma models.
Performed and optimized more than 20 cranial-window implantation surgeries for longitudinal in vivo imaging.
Established cryosectioning, Nissl staining, and H&E staining workflows for OCT–histology comparison.
Contributes biological validation and experimental-pipeline design to ultra-deep OCT development.
Illustrative cranial-window imaging workflow: surgery, longitudinal OCT, and histological validation.
Where it goes
Ground optical signal behavior in disease-model biology and histological ground truth, not signal analysis alone.
Featured system
Columnar brain biopsy device
Fig. 1 — Concept schematic: dual-cannula columnar biopsy device (illustrative, not to scale).
Design Engineer — Touchdown MedTech, Cornell University · August 2024 – May 2025
A novel device for columnar brain biopsy
Designed and iterated a novel device for columnar brain biopsy in collaboration with Cornell Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine. The device is a dual-cannula concept designed to collect larger, intact columnar brain-tissue samples while protecting healthy tissue.
Cornell's public showcase reports successful testing and validation indicating increased sample volume and integrity over conventional biopsy approaches.
Prototypes built
50+ (Fusion 360, iterative/AGILE)
Documentation standard
FDA CFR 820
Regulatory pathway explored
FDA 510(k)
Recognition
Cornell M.Eng. Design Award for Engineering Excellence, 2025
Review panel
10+ industry professionals and experts
Exhibited as “A Novel Device for Conducting Columnar Brain Biopsies” at the Cornell Engineering Design Expo, 2025, with Andrew Yang, Lilly Goodwin, Anna Gwozdz, Anna Olivia Humiston, Niranjan Vinay Kulkarni.
Effect on Soybean (Glycine max) Germination of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles using Garlic (Allium sativum) Extract
Undergraduate thesis, VIT Bhopal University, School of Biosciences, Engineering & Technology
Undergraduate thesis
Experience
Research and professional experience
July 2025 – Present
Research Technician
Adie Lab, Cornell University
Analyze depth-dependent OCT A-line profiles to investigate how scattering-driven contrast varies across brain regions and what structural features it represents.
Established and lead small-animal neuroimaging workflows for 5xFAD Alzheimer's and GL261 glioblastoma models, including IACUC protocol development and execution.
Performed and optimized 20+ cranial-window implantation surgeries for longitudinal in vivo brain imaging.
Conduct ex vivo 1300 nm OCT experiments examining regional structural differences and signal variability in white and gray matter.
Implemented dispersion compensation and Fourier-domain reconstruction to improve depth-resolved OCT signal consistency.
Established cryosectioning, Nissl staining, and H&E workflows for OCT–histology comparison.
Mentor five undergraduate researchers on experimental design, imaging workflows, and data interpretation.
Contribute biological validation and experimental-pipeline design to ultra-deep OCT development.
August 2024 – May 2025
Design Engineer
Touchdown MedTech, Cornell University
Collaborated with Cornell Engineering and Weill Cornell Medicine on a novel device for columnar brain biopsy.
Created 50+ design prototypes in Autodesk Fusion 360 and used iterative AGILE workflows for testing.
Maintained documentation aligned with FDA CFR 820 and explored FDA 510(k) submission strategies.
Project received the 2025 Cornell M.Eng. Design Award for Engineering Excellence.
June 2023 – June 2024
Undergraduate Researcher
SMART Lab, Department of Physics, IIT Indore
Investigated green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles as biocompatible agents for imaging and therapy.
Characterized nanoparticle scattering and absorption to study structure–function relationships relevant to imaging contrast.
Conducted soybean germination and oxidative-stress studies.
Co-authored a senior thesis summarizing experimental outcomes and analytical methods.
August 2022 – September 2022
Research Trainee
Rapture Biotech, Mumbai
Trained in MIC and ELISA-based drug concentration detection.
Learned laboratory safety protocols and Good Lab Practices (GLPs).
Gained exposure to upstream and downstream cell-culture processes.
Bench capabilities
Skills
Factual capability groups, not proficiency ratings.
Optical imaging
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Optical Coherence Microscopy (OCM)
Confocal microscopy
Data analysis
MATLAB
Python
ImageJ
Signal processing
Fourier-domain reconstruction
Dispersion compensation
Phase stability
Depth-dependent signal analysis
Instrumentation and design
Interferometric alignment
Optical assembly
3D CAD
Autodesk Fusion 360
SolidWorks
Materials characterization
XRD
SEM
UV-Vis
DLS / optical-property analysis
Software
LabVIEW
Autodesk Fusion 360
OriginPro
Biological methods
Cranial-window implantation
Ex vivo brain extraction
Tissue fixation
Cryosectioning
Nissl staining
H&E staining
GL261 tumor implantation
In vitro neuronal culture
Education
Education
August 2024 – May 2025
M.Eng. Biomedical Engineering
Cornell University
Biomedical Optics
Neurotechnology
Neurophysiology
August 2020 – May 2024
B.Tech. Bioengineering
Vellore Institute of Technology
Computational Biology and Analytics
Biosignals and Image Processing
Cancer Biology
Python Programming
Immune Engineering
Record
Teaching, mentorship, and leadership
Teaching & mentorship
Mentors five undergraduate researchers
Current
Adie Lab, Cornell University
Experimental design, imaging workflows, and data interpretation.
Project Mentor
March 2024 – May 2024
SMART Lab, IIT Indore
Laboratory Teaching Assistant
September 2022 – December 2022
Tissue Engineering Lab, VIT Bhopal
Leadership & activities
Co-Founder and Secretary, The Bioengineering Club
2021 – 2022
Helped establish a student body of 100+ students connecting students with professionals in biomedical fields.
Organized scientific coffee-table forums and the RABVIT '23 bioengineering symposium on contemporary healthcare issues in India.
MIT GrandHack '25
2025
Participant and finalist, Heart Health track.
Student Member, Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan
2022
Volunteered in rural areas of central India on a survey project.
Volunteer, Mauli Foundation
2021 – 2023
Led outreach for farmers on scientifically validated agricultural practices and soil-treatment methods.
Conducted workshops on nano-formulations for improved seed germination.
Selected project
Bio-inspired Global Positioning Systems based Joint Precision Air Drop System
October 2022 – April 2023
VIT Bhopal
Conducted a statistical survey across 20+ healthcare institutions and collaborated with stakeholders to understand healthcare-access problems in rural India.
Designed and modeled 8+ medical-kit payloads based on survey findings.
Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team spanning four majors.