{"id":7072,"date":"2021-11-02T07:40:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T12:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=7072"},"modified":"2021-11-02T07:40:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T12:40:00","slug":"multiple-research-projects-help-blugold-gain-skills-direction-as-she-looks-to-future","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/multiple-research-projects-help-blugold-gain-skills-direction-as-she-looks-to-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Multiple research projects help Blugold gain skills, direction as she looks to future"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo
Avi Devy Mohan has had multiple research experiences as a Blugold after transferring to UW-Eau Claire from a university in Malaysia. A computer science and mathematics major, Mohan has worked alongside faculty research mentors from three academic areas on campus as well as with physicians at Mayo Clinic Health System. (Photo by Bill Hoepner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The opportunity to do undergraduate research is among the reasons Avi Devy Mohan decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from a university in her native Malaysia.<\/p>\n

Still, the Blugold \u2014 now a senior computer science and applied mathematics major \u2014 never expected that her research would include collaborations with faculty in three academic departments as well as physicians at one of the most respected health care systems in the world.<\/p>\n

Even more surprising is that her research has ranged from biomedical technology to recreational mathematics, helping her understand the many ways researchers can influence everything from health care to wallpaper.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking part in research has been a great learning experience,\u201d Mohan says. \u201cI have learned so much about deep learning and how it can be used in different fields.\u201d<\/p>\n

Embracing research opportunities<\/h3>\n

Mohan is part of a UW-Eau Claire computer science research team that is collaborating with physicians at Mayo Clinic Health System, a project that involves creating a deep learning model that can detect inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in scans.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeep learning\u201d is a subset of machine learning that derives its working logic from the functioning of the brain. Due to its high accuracy, deep learning finds application in things such as self-driving cars that process high-resolution images on the fly as well as in biomedical technology.<\/p>\n

For the deep learning research project with Mayo Clinic Health System, Mohan helps develop ideas that may improve on the base architecture. She also assists with literature reviews for future papers and presentations.<\/p>\n

In addition, Mohan is part of a research team involving geography faculty and students, again using deep learning techniques but, in this project, focusing on techniques that are applicable for remote sensing. She helps to develop different deep learning models and to process data for the models, as well as assisting with tasks such as literature reviews.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn both research projects, we are trying to apply deep learning techniques on problems in a way that has not been done before,\u201d Mohan says of why and how the projects interest and challenge her.<\/p>\n

Mohan also was involved in a much different research project, one that she describes as \u201cvery fun to work on\u201d that involves collaborating with mathematics faculty. That project, she says, fell within the field of \u201crecreational mathematics\u201d and involved creating knitted versions of different wallpaper group patterns.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a broader sense, these research projects together opened my eyes to the many possibilities that can be achieved through technology in different fields,\u201d Mohan says.<\/p>\n

An outstanding student, researcher<\/h3>\n

Mohan\u2019s intelligence and curiosity make her a valuable student to have working in his research lab, says Dr. Rahul Gomes, an assistant professor of computer science and one of Mohan\u2019s research mentors for the past year.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is very motivated and eager to learn about machine learning, especially deep learning and how it can be used in image classification and segmentation,\u201d Gomes says of his research assistant.<\/p>\n

Recently, Mohan began exploring unsupervised deep learning algorithms to curb the need for using labeled images while training. This branch of research will reduce the dependence of deep learning algorithms on labeled training images and masks as creating them can be a tedious process, Gomes says.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer research dives into modifying the underlying framework of deep learning by using experimental layers of TensorFlow instead of using the models which are readily available on the internet,\u201d Gomes says. \u201cFor example, in our Mayo Clinic research project on IVC filter detection, Avi is exploring custom image filters in the deep learning model that could have the potential to enhance IVC filters from CT scans based on its shape and reflectance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The primary task of this filter is to break blood clots and prevent them from traveling to the heart and lungs. The research team\u2019s goal is to automate the detection of these filters when a patient gets a CT scan, Gomes says, adding that they are using deep learning to accomplish their goal.<\/p>\n

Mohan\u2019s contributions to that project and others is invaluable, Gomes says.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is an expert in running parallel jobs on the Blugold Center for High-Performance Computing,\u201d Gomes says. \u201cIt is great to have her as a research assistant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding a potential career path<\/h3>\n

Mohan came to UW-Eau Claire knowing she would pursue her passions for computer science and mathematics, two academic areas that have long interested her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been interested in computers since I was in middle school, specifically the problem-solving aspects involved in programming,\u201d Mohan says. \u201cI decided to take on an additional math major because I really enjoyed the math classes that I was in, and it had great applications in certain computer science areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is through her research, however, that Mohan is learning about biomedical technology and the increasingly large and critical role it plays in health care.<\/p>\n

\u201cI previously had very little knowledge of the medical field and the technology used,\u201d says Mohan, who will graduate in May 2022. \u201cWorking with Mayo has allowed me to gain that knowledge through our collaboration. Actually, doing research has shown me that this is something that I would like to do as a career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mohan\u2019s plans now include earning a Ph.D., which would set her on a path toward a career in research on machine learning.<\/p>\n

The research she is doing as a Blugold will help her achieve those goals, Mohan says, noting that her research experience will strengthen her application when she\u2019s applying to graduate programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore importantly, it has taught me how to actually conduct research and how to be an independent learner,\u201d Mohan says. \u201cThat will help me throughout grad school and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince technology is an ever-evolving field, I will be able to cope with the changes easily and stay relevant in my field \u2014 especially because research teaches you to think outside of the box. Other little things I have picked up like working with others, working outside of my comfort zone and dealing with \u2018failures\u2019 will help me in the long run as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

While her research experience has strengthened her understanding of deep learning and related concepts, it\u2019s also helping her build other skills that will help her thrive in her life as well as her career.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn a more personal level, research has taught me that some things take time,\u201d Mohan says. \u201cAs a perfectionist, I like being able to finish my task as soon as possible, and as perfectly as possible. That’s not always the case in research. Sometimes it takes you weeks or days to get where you need to be. Sometimes you chase rabbit holes that end up nowhere or methods that do not work as well as you thought they would. This is still something that I struggle with, but I am improving with time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, of course, research is always a collaborative effort, so it has improved my communication skills and my ability to work with others.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The opportunity to do undergraduate research is among the reasons Avi Devy Mohan decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from a university in her native Malaysia. Still, the Blugold \u2014 now a senior computer science and applied mathematics major \u2014 never expected that her research would include collaborations with faculty in three […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":7075,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[96],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-7072","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-eau-claire"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/7072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7072"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=7072"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=7072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}