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Niyathi Chakrapani

multimedia creator

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Academics

University of Pennsylvania

B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior (Neuroscience), minor in Philosophy (2015-2018)

Honors: Magna Cum Laude, Nu Rho Psi National Neuroscience Honors Society, Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society, Penn Emerging Scholar, Benjamin Franklin Scholar (2015-2018, honors program of 80 undergraduates a year / 10,000 total), Dean’s List

Other involvements: Penn Neuroscience Society (External Chair, 2015-2016), Biological Basis of Behavior Society

Industry: brain-computer interfacing

OpenBCI

Open Source Brain-Computer Interfacing (OpenBCI)

  • Built brain-computer interface boards and biosensing headsets, and applications of EEG brain-computer interface and eye tracking technologies

  • Conceptualized and undertook specific projects: using EMG electrodes and FACS AU facial expression muscular codes to determine emotions through tracking facial muscle electrical activity; creating an EMG arm flap-controlled "Flappy Bird" game; printing a face mask for EMG scanning to be used for medical, commercial, and procedural purposes

  • Worked on a team project: creating a safe, EMG-controlled motorcycle helmet headphone media center

Research

University of Washington

Chavkin Lab (Neuropharmacology)

Research Assistant (2015)

  • Studied the molecular basis of drug addiction, particularly the role of kappa opioid receptors in cognition and motivation

  • Helped design an experiment to study social defeat stress in female mice

  • Assisted in mouse behavioral studies investigating the effect of hallucinogens on time perception

  • Performed EPM and tail flick assays, analyzed data, assisted in paper writing and experimental design

  • Certifications received: Animal Use Laws and Regulations Training Certification, Mice Research Certification (UW)

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Santhakumar Lab (Traumatic brain injury & epilepsy)

Research Technician Assistant (2014)

  • Assisted in rat brain surgeries to attach sensors; anesthetized and injured rats with a Fluid Percussion Injury machine

  • Cut brains with a Cryostat machine, stained brain slices with antibodies
    (immunohistochemistry) and mounted slices on slides

  • Analyzed slices using a confocal microscope; used electroencephalograms and videos to identify epileptic activity

  • Biotynilated Avidin and used ELISA assays to detect proteins

Drawing: Santiago Ramon y Cajal