Sossena Wood

PhD Candidate in Bioengineering
BS Electrical Engineering, Fall 10

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

 

EDUCATION:

PhD Candidate and Graduate Student Researcher, Department of Bioengineering,

K. Leroy Irvis Fellow, National GEM Consortium Fellow, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellow, Pitt-CITRL Associate

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

 Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

 

 

STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE:

Participant, Engineering for a Better Environment,

Sao Paulo, Iguassu, and Rio de Janerio, Brazil

August 2010

 

AWARDS:

8/2011
4/2013		 2nd Place in the 2011 Technical Presentation (PhD) at the 35th Annual National GEM Consortium Conference  
Rising African American Leaders (RAAL) Award, University of Pittsburgh African American Alumni Council (AAAC)
5/2014 
8/2015 		 ISMRM 2014 Educational Stipend
2015 GEM Fellow of the Year (Female)
3/2016
12/2016		 New Pittsburgh Courier, FAB 40 Recipient, a select group of Pittsburgh’s young African Americans under age 40
 University of Pittsburgh’s Provost Development Fund
3/2017
4/2017		 Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year (Female) Awardee, National Society of Black Engineers’ 20th Annual Golden TORCH Awards, NSBE 43rd Annual Convention
ISMRM 2017 Educational Stipend
Pitt STRIVE 2017 Travel Award

CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Pitt-CITRL Associate, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Advanced MRI Safety Training for MRI Healthcare Professionals: Level 2 MR Personnel
  • Academic Entrepreneurship, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

PUBLICATIONS:

Journal Publications (Peer-Reviewed), Editorials

  1. Santini, T., Kim, J., Wood S., Krishnamurthy N., Farhat, N., Maciel, C., Raval, S., and Ibrahim TS, “A new RF Transmit Coil for Foot and Ankle Imaging at 7T MRI”, Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In Press.
  2. Wood S., Krishnamurthy N., Santini, T., Raval, S., Farhat, N., Holmes, J. and Ibrahim TS, “Design and Fabrication of a Realistic Anthropomorphic Heterogeneous Head Phantom for MR Purposes”, PLOS ONE, In Press.

*A few journal articles are under preparation. Please contact Sossena directly for more information.

Proceedings of Conferences

1.

   Wood S., Krishnamurthy N., Santini, T., Raval, S., and Ibrahim TS, “Evaluation of an Anthropomorphic Phantom with In-Vivo Using Quantitative MRI”, In Proc. of the 25th International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 2017, April 21-27. (accepted).[PDF]

2.

   Santini, T., Kim, J., Wood S., Krishnamurthy N., Raval, S., and Ibrahim TS, “A new RF coil for foot and ankle imaging at 7T MRI”, In Proc. of the 25th International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 2017, April 21-27. (accepted).[PDF]

3.

   Raval S, Santini T, Wood S., Krishnamurthy N, Ibrahim TS, “In-vivo (8×4) 32-ch Tx-only Body Array for UHF MR”, In Proc. of the 25th International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 2017, April 21-27. (accepted). [PDF]

4.

   Santini T., Krishnamurthy N., Wood S., Raval S., Zhao Y., Fischetti A., Koo M., Aizenstein H., and Ibrahim TS “A 64-channel Double-Octagon Tx Head Coil for 7T Imaging”, In Proc. of the 25th International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 2017, April 21-27. (accepted).[PDF]

5.

   Ibrahim TS, Santini T, Raval S, Krishnamurthy N, Wood S., Kim, J., Zhao, Y., Wu, X., Yacoub, E., Aizenstein, H., Zhao, T., “Towards Homogenous 7T Neuro Imaging: Findings and Comparisons between 7T TTT and NOVA RF Coil Systems”, In Proc. of the 25th International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 2017, April 21-27. (accepted). [PDF]

6.

   Krishnamurthy N, Zhao Y, Raval S, Kim J,Wood S, Santini T, Zhao T, Ibrahim TS. 7T Multi-slab Whole-Head Homogenous and Low SAR T2 Acquisitions with Limited RF Power Amplifiers Capabilities. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 23rd Annual Meeting Competition; 2015 June; Toronto, Canada (accepted)[PDF]

7.

   Zhao Y, Krishnamurthy N, Wood S,  Zhao T, Raval S, Ibrahim TS. 3D Eigenmodes Optimizations for 3D Imaging at 7T. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 23rd Annual Meeting Competition; 2015 June; Toronto, Canada (accepted) [PDF]

8.

   Wood S, Krishnamurthy N, Zhao Y, Raval S, Zhao T, Holmes J, Ibrahim TS. Anatomically Detailed Human Head Phantom for MR Testing Purposes. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 22nd Annual Meeting Competition; 2014 May 10-16; Milan, Italy (accepted)[PDF]

9.

   Krishnamurthy N, Wood S, Kim J, Zhao Y, Raval S, Zhao T, Ibrahim TS. Transmit Array Performance across Subjects at 7T MRI: Simulations and Experiments. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 22nd Annual Meeting Competition; 2014 May 10-16; Milan, Italy (submitted)[PDF]

10.

   Wood S, Krishnamurthy N, Zhao Y, Raval S, Holmes J, Ibrahim TS. Anatomically Detailed Human Head Phantom. Pittsburgh Imaging Community Retreat; 2013 Oct 21; Pittsburgh, PA (accepted)

11.

   Zhao Y, Wood S, Zhao T, Krishnamurthy N, Ibrahim TS. Simultaneous Excitation of Distinct Electromagnetic Modes using a Tx Arrays. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 21st Annual Meeting Competition; 2013 Apr 20-26; Salt Lake City, UT (accepted).

12.

   Ibrahim TS, Zhao Y, Krishnamurthy P, Raval S, Zhao T, Wood S, Kim J. 20-to-8 Channel Tx Array with 32-Channel Adjustable Receive-Only Insert for 7T Head Imaging. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 21st Annual Meeting Competition; 2013 Apr 20-26; Salt Lake City, UT (accepted).

13.

   Zhao Y, Zhao T, Wood S, Krishnamurthy N, Raval S, Kim J, Ibrahim TS. 3D SAR-Constrained Homogeneous B1+ Field at 7T. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 21st Annual Meeting Competition; 2013 Apr 20-26; (submitted).

14.

   Krishnamurthy N, Raval S, Zhao Y, Wood S, Zhao T, Ibrahim TS. Experiment and Simulation Validation of the effect of 32 Channel Receive Array Inserts on Transmit B1+ and SAR at 7Tesla Parallel Transmit System. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 21st Annual Meeting Competition; 2013 Apr 20-26; Salt Lake City, Utah (submitted).

15.

   Zhao Y, Zhao T, Wood S, Krishnamurthy N, Kim J, Raval S, Ibrahim TS. SAR-Constrained Ultra Homogeneous Slice Excitation at 7T with B1 Shimming. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 21st Annual Meeting Competition; 2013 Apr 20-26; Salt Lake City, UT (submitted).

16.

   Raval S, Zhao Y, Krishnamurthy P, Wood S, Ibrahim T. 7T Tx Body Coil with Rx-Only Insert: Preliminary Results. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 21st Annual Meeting Competition; 2013 Apr 20-26; Salt Lake City, UT (accepted). [PDF]

 

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

Graduate Research Experiences

“Parallel Transmit B1+ Field Shimming Optimization Tool” (Spring 2012- Present)

Advised: Dr. Tamer S. Ibrahim
  • Perform specific absorption rate (SAR), optimization and localization of the magnetic (B1+) field testing through electromagnetic simulations
  • Developed features of the original lab’s code that allows the toolbox to use optimizations algorithms such as fmincon and PSO (pattern search optimization) within Matlab
  • Developed toolbox to be used for the head and other body extremities
  • Developed toolbox features for sagital and coronal selection and viewing based on rotation of head coil
  • Created a feature to select various tissues within the torso region of the body when a torso body coil is used
“3D SAR-Constrained Homogeneous B1+ Field at 7T” (Fall 2010 &  August 2011 – February 2015)

Advised: Dr. Tamer S. Ibrahim 
  •  Perform simulations on various biological samples with the assumptions needed for a 7T MRI machine using the Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method
  • Simulated various head sizes and matched qualitative and quantitative comparison of the simulation to test the robustness of a 7T MRI head coil with Tic-Tac-Toe (TTT) geometry
“An Atomically Detailed Human Head Phantom”(Fall 2010 &  August 2011 – Present)

Advised: Dr. Tamer S. Ibrahim
  • Sponsored by Siemens in Germany and NIH
  • Continuation of “Head Tissue Segmentation” to create human head phantoms with dielectric properties of various tissue types to conduct RF testing in 7 Tesla and greater imaging
  • Developed a 8 tissue head phantom with refillable chambers that hold the biological properties of matching
  • The biological tissues were all made and mixed in-house with accurate T1 measurements and dielectric properties given by SPEAG DAK probe
  • Matched the simulated quantitative and qualitative measurements with the real MRI image acquisition captured with the 7 Tesla MRI Siemens Magnetom

 

Post- Baccalaureate Research Experience

“Cueing Kitchen”(Winter 2010 – Summer 2011)

Advised: Dr. Dan Ding
  • Work on hardware development and design various embedded systems to prompt cueing in kitchen to assist those who have cognitive impairments to be able to prepare meals and clean up independent of clinical assistance

 

Undergraduate Research Experiences:

“MP3 Player Controlled Remotely via Internet”

(Fall 2010) || Advised: Dr. Yiran Chen
  • Developed an MP3 player that would play music remotely  via internet using the Altera Nios II  Development Board in Embedded Systems course
“Head Tissue Segmentation” (Summer 2010) || Advised: Dr. Tamer S. Ibrahim
  • Created an algorithm and atlas for head tissue segmentation of 3Tesla MRI for the testing of 7Tesla RF coils

 
Senior Design Project: “Artificial Pacemakers: Effects with RFID Signals”

(Spring 2010)  || Advised: Dr. Marlin Mickle
  • Simulated software on a DSP board to function as a pacemaker to test the effects of RFID signals

 

 

High School Research Experience:

“Hyperchaos in Transistors”, University of Maryland College Park Intern(Fall 2005 & Spring 2006)  || Advised: Dr. Robert Newcomb
  • Researched the study of hyperchaos to determine if it would appear in a CMOS transistor circuit through analytical software

 

Presentations:

 Educational and Plenary Lectures in International Meetings

1.   T.S. Ibrahim, S. Wood, Y. Zhao, “Coils, RF Shimming & SAR” Sunrise Educational Course: Nuts& Bolts of Advanced Imaging. The 23rd International
Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, May 2015.  http://www.ismrm.org/15/program_files/S09a.htm
 2.  T.S. Ibrahim, Y. Zhao, S. Wood, “Break-Out Groups to Work on Exercises on Reconstruction or Parallel Transmission” Sunrise Educational Course: Nuts& Bolts of Advanced Imaging. The 22nd International
Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Annual Meeting, Milan, Italy, May 2014.  http://www.ismrm.org/14/program_files/S10c.htm
3. Wood S, Krishnamurthy N, Zhao Y, Raval S, Zhao T, Holmes J, Ibrahim TS. Anatomically Detailed Human Head Phantom for MR Testing Purposes. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 22nd Annual Meeting Competition; 2014 May 10-16; Milan, Italy

Broadening Participation in STEM 

Keynote Address 

1.

   Wood S.,“Paving the Way” for Black Women in STEAM Luncheon. Presented at: Georgia Institute of Technology. Student Center Ballroom. 2014 Feb; Atlanta, GA

2.

   Wood, S., African American Women in STEM Awareness Program. Presented at: University of Maryland College Park NSBE Chapter Meeting; 2015 March; College Park, MD.

3.

   Wood, S., and Mitchell, M., State of the Society. Presented at: 41st Annual NSBE National Convention; 2015 Mar 26- 30; Anaheim, CA.

4.

   Wood, S., and Reid, K. NSBE 2025 Vision. Presented at: 41st Annual NSBE National Convention; 2015 Mar 26- 30; Anaheim, CA.

5.

   Wood, S., Closing Banquet. Presented at: University of Pittsburgh’s Pre PhD Summer Engineering Research Experience and SRI Award Luncheon; 2015 July 24; Pittsburgh, PA.

6.

   Wood, S., Social Engineering: Creating the World You Want. Presented at: 2016 Joint Collegiate Black Student Summit; 2016 March 5; Rochester, NY.

7.

   Wood, S., Creating Your Self Portrait on a Canvas: Becoming a Transformative Women in Engineering.” Presented at: Society of Women Engineers’ SWEvening; 2016 April 15; Pittsburgh, PA.

8.

   Wood, S., Engineering a New Era in STEAM. Presented at: University of New Hampshire’s National Society of Black Engineers Closing Banquet; 2016 April 17; Durham, NH.

Featured Panelist 

1.

   Wood. S, DOD Open Plenary Session. Presented at: Blacks in Government National Training Conference 2012, Region II; 2012 August 12-16; Detroit, MI.

2.

   Hue, E., Wood S., Voices from the Field. Presented at: 2012 GEM Annual Board Meeting and Conference; 2012 Aug 1-3; San Francisco, CA.

3.

   Cooper, M., Murray, K., Liptrot, K. Latimer, R., Johnson, J. Strawbridge, J. Wright, L. and Wood, S.,Opening Session. Presented at: University of Pittsburgh African American Student Retention Symposium; 2013 Sept 11; Pittsburgh, PA.

4.

   Baker, C. and Wood S, National GEM Consortium: Voices from the Field. Presented at: 40th Annual NSBE National Convention; 2014 Mar 26- 30; Nashville, TN.

5.

   Pierre, L. and Wood, S., African American Women in STEM. General Session Sponsored by Johnson Controls. Presented at: 40th Annual NSBE National Convention; 2014 Mar 26- 30; Nashville, TN.

6.

   May, G., Hernández, S., X., Watford, B., and Wood, S. Challenges in Recruiting Diverse STEM Talent from a University Perspective. Presented at: Annual GEM Conference; 2014 Aug; San Diego, CA.

 

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE:

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

National, Chairperson 2013-2015, Board of Directors
National, Vice Chairperson 2012-2013, Board of Directors
Region II, Chair 2011-2012
Region II, Vice Chairperson 2010-2011
University of Pittsburgh, President 2009-2010

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP:

The International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine(ISMRM), Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Advancing Science Serving Society (AAAS)/ Science, Toastmasters International, University of Pittsburgh’s Engineering Diversity Graduate Student Association (EDGSA)

Peer Reviewer-International Journal of Antennas and Propagation