What is this newsletter about?
Engineering Discovery is a newsletter that explores topics related to scientific progress. I believe that accelerating scientific discovery and innovation is a powerful way to benefit society, and I spend a lot of time thinking about the structures and people that shape science.
Some of what you’ll find here:
Essays on the histories of scientific discoveries
Analyses of scientific trends using bibliometric data
Case studies on the people and environments behind scientific breakthroughs
Reflections on institutional culture and its role in scientific outcomes
Commentary on papers I find interesting, placed in the broader context of the field
About me
I’m a research scientist focused on advancing imaging technologies to study brain health. My goal is to use imaging in interesting ways to reveal novel information about brain function.
In my PhD, I combined imaging techniques to study how neuronal activity and blood-flow interact after brain injury. At the Allen Institute for Neural Dynamics, I combined molecular and optical tools to study neuromodulators (dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) in an integrated manner. As a research scientist at UW-Madison, I hope to combine light microscopy with electron microscopy to study protein structure alterations in neurodegenerative diseases.
A central theme in my research has been combining different types of data to build a more complete picture of complex living systems. I believe we can apply the same approach to science itself by using data to understand what makes research environments succeed or fail. Of course, data has its limits. Some of the most interesting insights live at the margins, the outliers. Through Engineering Discovery, I aim to blend quantitative analyses with personal narratives by zooming out to see patterns and zooming in to understand the people and environments behind the discoveries.
Outside of research, I enjoy woodworking, hiking, reading. I also write about progress in maternal and child health in India.
