Anthony originates from Ghana, a small country in West Africa. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from Kwame University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Anthony
developed a love for simulation studies when he utilized MATLAB/Simulink to design a closed-loop DC-DC boost converter. After his undergraduate studies, he got a scholarship to pursue a Master of Science
degree in Electronics Engineering at Norfolk State University (NSU) in Norfolk, Virginia. At NSU, he worked with Dr. Makarand Deo, who introduced him to in silico cardiac electrophysiology experiments
that use computer models of the heart to study the mechanisms of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia initiation and maintenance.
Having found a new passion for the cross fields of biology and electrical engineering, he pursued the Biomedical Engineering PhD program at Old Dominion University (ODU) under the supervision of Dr.
Michel Audette and Dr. Omer Berenfeld. Anthony’s PhD research focused on developing a working numerical biophysical model of cardiac myocytes and human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes, integrating single-cell models with a 3D anatomical model of ventricles and utilizing the computer models to study mechanisms of arrhythmia initiation and maintenance in the presence of ion
channel mutations commonly observed in Long QT Syndrome patients.
In the CardSS lab, he is a postdoctoral researcher who leads the PULSE-SVA project. His primary responsibilities are to create anatomical models of patients with single-ventricle disease and to conduct biophysically detailed simulations to assess the inducibility of reentrant arrhythmias.
Outside of research, Anthony is an ardent FC Barcelona supporter who enjoys watching their soccer matches.
Education
- PhD: Biomedical Engineering, Old Dominion University (USA)
- MSc: Electronics Engineering, Norfolk State University (USA)
- BSc: Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana)
Ruben is a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Originally from Oregon, he earned a Bachelor’s of Science with Honors in Biochemistry and Biology from the University of Oregon in 2022. His undergraduate research focused on computer simulations of the protein dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Ruben is passionate about advancing health equity and improving healthcare access in underserved communities. He aspires to become a cardiologist and contribute to innovative, community-focused care.
In his free time, Ruben enjoys spending time with friends and loved ones, playing soccer, and exploring Seattle.
Education:
B.S.: Biochemistry and Biology (Honors), University of Oregon, 2022
Ahmad Kassar is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Cardiology. Graduating with an M.D. degree from the Lebanese American University, Ahmad pursued the prestigious Scholars in Health Research Program (SHARP) at the American University of Beirut, where he gained a robust foundation in clinical and translational research. Following this, he joined the Atrial Fibrillation Program at the University of Washington under the mentorship of Dr. Nazem Akoum.
Ahmad then became an active member of the CardSS Lab, where his research centers on utilizing findings from multimodality imaging and cardiac electroanatomic data to deepen our understanding of atrial myopathy in patients with atrial fibrillation. His exceptional work earned him first place in the Western Atrial Fibrillation Symposium Scientific Scholarship Competition in Park City, Utah. Additionally, his research has been highlighted at national conferences, where several of his abstracts received “Highest Scoring Abstract” in their respective societies.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Ahmad is an active person where he enjoys hiking, kayaking, playing tennis, and exploring Seattle’s rich culinary scene.
Surbhi is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. Her passion for math and science is a direct result of the rich academic environment fostered by her parents, who collectively share a background in teaching STEM-related subjects. Following this passion, she traversed the path of a PhD where she applied advanced mathematical techniques to unravel biological secrets. She pursued her PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology under the supervision of Dr. Kishalay Mitra where she worked on several interesting projects funded by the Government of India.
Throughout her diverse projects, Surbhi learned and employed different computational techniques, including mathematical modeling, optimization, and machine learning, to address critical biological challenges. She has published several research articles supporting her novel findings. During her PhD research, Surbhi developed a profound interest and fascination for machine learning. Utilizing such techniques for the betterment of humankind, such as improving clinical diagnosis and healthcare, is one of her biggest motivations.
In the CardSS lab, Surbhi is leading a project that focuses on leveraging ML to identify the risk of Cardiomyopathy in childhood cancer survivors. She is also leading another project that is focused on developing ML techniques for identifying risk factors leading to sudden cardiac arrest in a general population.
During her free time, Surbhi enjoys doing Yoga, reading non-fiction, and exploring the beautiful PNW outdoors with her husband.
Education:
PhD: Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
MTech: Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
BTech: Chemical Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology
Chelsea is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. She graduated with an Honors Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in Spanish from the University of Utah in 2019. Her undergraduate research focused on building and characterizing novel genetic circuits to manipulate mammalian stem cell differentiation.
Chelsea was an 2021 awardee of the NSF Graduate Research Foundation Fellowship to help fund her excellent research projects, which focus on using computational modeling and simulation to better understand the mechanisms of arrhythmia following cell therapy. As a postdoctoral fellow in the lab (effective late 2024, following the successful defense of her PhD dissertation), Chelsea has taken on a new role as a lead researcher in charge of our PULSE-SVA project.
Outside of research, Chelsea enjoys skiing, baking, knitting, and exploring the great outdoors.
Education:
B.S.: Biomedical Engineering, Honors Bachelor’s, with a Minor in Spanish; University of Utah, 2019
