Helen N. Schwerdt, Ph.D.
I am a research scientist committed to learning more about brain function and dysfunction and to develop and integrate better tools to examine and manipulate neural circuits to help improve treatment for neurological diseases.
education
Ph.D. (June 2014)
Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
research experience
Postdoctoral Fellow / Research Scientist (June 2014 – Present)
Graybiel Lab & Cima Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Graduate Research Associate (Aug. 2009 – June 2014)
MEMS for Biomedical Applications Lab (Prof. Junseok Chae), Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe
teaching experience
Teaching Assistant for Microwaves Lab (Fall 2012/2013), Engineering Electromagnetics Lab (Spring 2013)
awards and honors
2020 – 2022 Brain & Behavior Research Foundation NARSAD Young Investigator Grant
2018 – 2023 NIH / NINDS Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
2015 – 2018 NIH / NINDS Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F32)
2013 ASU Graduate College Summer Research Fellowship
2012 – 2013 Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) Doctoral Research Grant
2012 – 2013 Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Award
2009 – 2012 NASA Graduate Student Research Program (GSRP) Fellowship
referee activities
Frontiers Bioengineering, Batteries, Sensors and Actuators: A. Physical, Sensors and Actuators: B. Chemical, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Journal of Power Sources, Journal of Computational Electronics, ACS Chemical Neuroscience
trainees supervised
Usamma Amjad, Arizona State University, Undergraduate in Chemical Engineering, Class of 2016, 2013 – 2015
Yuechen Mark Yang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate in Electrical Engineering, Class of 2018, 2015 – 2016. Now engineer at Xilinx.
Harshita Yerramreddy, Wellesley College, Undergraduate in Neuroscience, Class of 2018, 2015 – 2017. Now software engineer at Google Verily.
Isabella Pecorari, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Class of 2019, 2016 – 2017
Ekin Karasan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate in Electrical Engineering, Class of 2018, 2016 – 2017. Now at University of California, Berkeley, pursuing Ph.D.
Michelle Duan, Wellesley College, Undergraduate Chemistry, Class of 2019, 2016 – 2018
Hussein Emre Dagdeviren, Istanbul Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine (Istanbul, Turkey), Medical Student, Neurosurgery, Summer 2017
Elizabeth Zhang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master’s Student, Electrical Engineering, 2017 – 2018. Now at Stanford University pursuing Ph.D.
Karenna Groff, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate, Class of 2022, Summer 2018
Stuart Dillon Powell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate in Electrical Engineering, Class of 2021, Summer 2018
Carl Alex Matisse, Johns Hopkins University, Undergraduate in Neuroscience, Class of 2021, Summer 2018
Busra Nur Agca. Hacettepe University School of Medicine (Ankara, Turkey), 3rd Year Medical Student, Summers 2018 and 2019
Kade Bose, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate in Electrical Engineering, Class of 2022, Spring 2019 – present
Jeanne L. Harabedian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Class of 2020, Spring 2019
May Xia, Wellesley College, Undergraduate in Neuroscience, Class of 2021, Spring 2019 – present
Edgardo A. Letona Chavez, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Undergraduate in Physics, Class of 2022, Spring 2019