Bio-X Graduate Student Fellow

Awarded in 2005
Home Department: Electrical Engineering, Medicine
Faculty Advisor: Krishna Shenoy (Electrical Engineering)

Research Title: Neural mechanisms of motor preparation and applications to prostheses

Research Description: Afsheen’s research with the Shenoy group involved the design and implementation of neural prosthetics that patients can use. He focused his efforts on the paradigm of point-to-point movements, such as those done by typing on a keyboard. Specifically, he developed innovative computational models and algorithms that help elucidate how the brain plans and executes movement. He was concurrently working on improving the electronic infrastructure that could support an extremely fast (i.e., realtime) and accurate "virtual keyboard" that would allow a patient to type by planning movements to desired keys at desired times. Finally, he collaborated with neurosurgeon Dr. Jaimie Henderson to apply their work to a Parkinson's Disease patient population. Afsheen hoped to bring all these avenues together to help create a real, useful prosthetic.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

Afsheen is the Founder and Managing Member of Pilot Wave Holdings, the first investment firm in the world dedicated to bringing world-class technologies to small businesses.