Creating New Computational Methods to Quantify Embryology
The computational team is focused on applying both existing and new computational and statistical techniques to organize big data, quantify cellular processes, and otherwise analyze the visual-based data generated across all the projects.
Our lab relies on the acquisition of image-based data. These data can be extremely large in size and visually complex, which makes this data particularly challenging to extract quantitative meaning. This often means creating custom computational methods to complete our targeted analyses. We are interested in building a group of students who can bring new skills to us in the area of computation and data sciences to collaborate in the development of new methodologies to analyze image-based data.
In the computation group, students learn how to use post-processing software including Imaris and ImageJ. We have also collaborated with professors in Math and SDS to model developmental processes and create new programs to help us with specific quantitative approaches. One such program is called Delta-SCOPE, which serves to analyze the 3D distribution of cell structures affiliated with commissural axons in the zebrafish forebrain. We are currently learning and applying IMARIS software applications for cell counting and tracking during 4D imaging.
This work has contributed to both NSF and NIH grant awards.