I completed my BSc in Physics and Mathematics (1997) from St. Josephs College, Bangalore, India. Computing and learning about computing had always interested me and after college, I landed a job with WIPRO Systems Inc. After a brief sojourn of 6 months on the corporate "bench", life inside a software company was not as I'd imagined. I found a position to use computational tools in Dr. Upi Bhalla's group as a junior research fellow at the National Center for Biological Sciences. Soon, I moved to the United States seeking a graduate degree in Physics, looking for research projects with a computational focus and applied toward studying biological systems.

After obtaining a MS in Physics from Dartmouth College Ph.D from the University of Michigan with Dr. Mary-Ann Mycek in 2005. I held post-doctoral research positions at Michigan till 2006 and then at Duke till 2012. I worked with the Optics and Photonics division at Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. as a senior research scientist for a few years, till I found my position in the Physics Department at Miami University in 2014.

At Miami, I direct the OSIM lab here, where we explore the use of optics to understand and solve biomedical problems. I like working with students and researchers across disciplinary boundaries by applying physics-centric principles for understanding living systems.

Undergraduate degree: Physics, St. Joseph's College, Bangalore, India
Research Project: Diffuse correlation spectroscopy: theory and experiments
At OSIM from: 2021

I am a graduate student in Physics and have been involved in OSIM for a little over a year of my undergraduate years. I enjoy exercising (I was a Kinesiology major) and traveling to places with beautiful scenery. My interest in exercise and biology lead me to OSIM lab. The research is advancing the optical techniques used for sensing the activity of the body at a deeper level in real time.

Undergraduate degree: Biological Physics, Miami University
Research Project: Gated time-domain optical spectroscopy
At OSIM from: 2018

Class of: 2024
Major(s): Biological Physics
At OSIM from: 2019

I am a sophomore physics and premed major interested in the medical applications of noninvasive, light-based imaging. I became involved in the lab late in the fall semester of 2019 after Dr. Vishwanath presented his research group to my PHY185 class and my interest was piqued. I hope to use this semester to learn what properties of probes work best for specific tissues, with the hope that I will be able to build usable probes for specific tissues in the spring. Right now, my goal for this lab is to explore my interest in the field and build a wealth of practical knowledge for future research.

Class of: 2022
Major(s): Biological Physics
At OSIM from: 2020
Research project: Variable SDS fiber-optical spectroscopy

Class of: 2024
Major(s): Biological Physics
At OSIM from: 2020
Research project: DRS for Shuntodynia

My name is Olivia Kline and I joined OSIM in the winter of 2020. A sophomore from the Cleveland area, I garnered an appreciation for physics under a retired naval engineer who instructed my AP Physics class in high school. While I selected biological physics on a whim, expecting to change my major early in my studies, my love for physics has only grown thanks to my experience in Miami University’s Kreger Hall. I joined OSIM to develop a deeper knowledge of physics while also seeking ways to improve our understanding of the body and healthcare. With the guidance of Dr. Vishwanath and elder lab members, I am slowly developing a foundation of which I can surely be proud. In the past, I examined journal studies regarding fNIRS in mice and gained experience with MC simulations, but I am predominantly interested in exploring applications of spectroscopy, specifically DRS. I think it is important to explore uses for the unique, non-invasive, inexpensive technique that allows us to understand how light interacts with biological tissue. I am so grateful for the wonderful group of scholars that I have met in my time at Miami –especially those of whom I met in the lab—and I look forward to exploring the realm of spectroscopy further in the future.

Class of: 2024
Major(s): Biological Physics
At OSIM from: 2021
Research project: Mesh-based Monte Carlo modeling

"Joshua Raphael Uy is an undergrad Physics and Mathematics double major. Currently, he's modeling photons propagation in complex media such as the human body. He's a massive geek on Fantasy novels, particularly enjoying Brandon Sanderson's cosmere works. He is always willing to play (horribly) a game of chess!

Class of: 2025
Major(s): Biological Physics
At OSIM from: 2022
Research project: TBD...

I am a freshman biological physics major. I joined the lab during my second semester freshman year after being fascinated with the various research projects. I am currently exploring the variety of projects in the lab as well as learning how to work with all of the equipment that will be necessary as I progress. Within the next year I hope to either continue working on an existing project or beginning a new inquiry. I feel that being a part of this lab will help enhance my education, giving me a unique perspective on the applications of this field. Overall, I am incredibly excited to be a part of this lab and see where this experience takes me.

Class of: 2025
Major(s): Biological Physics
At OSIM from: 2022
Research project: TBD...

My name is Audrey Mannella and I am a first year student at Miami University. I’m majoring in Biological Physics, as well as Pre-Medical Studies. This is my first year being apart of the OSIM lab, so I am looking forward to gaining research experience and exploring the use of optics to solve problems in medicine.