Adam Willats

Researcher completing a Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering focused at the intersection of neuroscience and closed-loop control.

(Industry) Objective

Data scientist experienced in analysis and visualization of complex neural data. Successful engineer and innovator of responsive technologies for understanding and regulating the nervous system. Looking to expand the efficacy of neurostimulation therapies through design and development of closed-loop algorithms and individualized data-driven models of the nervous system. Eager to apply expertise within a collaborative research and development team to improve quality of life for those experiencing neurological disorders.

(Academic) Objective

Computational systems neuroscientist with experience expanding the toolkit for understanding the brain using data-driven mathematical models of neural dynamics, and responsive closed-loop perturbation of neural circuits. Highly motivated teacher committed to developing interactive and intuitive ways to communicate concepts to students. Seeking a position which balances collaborative research in understanding and treating the brain through closed-loop neuroengineering with additional impact through educating students in systems neuroscience and control theory.

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Professional & Research Experience

2014-present Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, SIPLAB

• Developed dynamical systems models of neural responses to optogenetic stimulation
• Characterized algorithms for decoding and controlling brain states in silico
• Implemented real-time closed-loop control algorithms to regulate neural firing in vivo [group page ] [HMM decoding ] [control & estimation ]
• Actively participated in both neuro-engineering and machine learning communities

Jan 2014-Jun 2014 Undergraduate Researcher, Purdue University, Center for implantable Devices

• Developed technology and signal processing algorithms for a novel approach to control intraocular pressure (IOP) to treat glaucoma
• Conducted surgeries and data analysis to verify prototype performance

May 2013-Aug 2013 Intern - R&D, Cyberonics (now LivaNova)

• Characterized, and tested radio frequency programming system for vagus nerve stimulator
• Streamlined collection and visualization of oscilloscope data by developing a MATLAB GUI
• Researched security concerns associated with wireless-enabled implantable medical devices

Aug 2010–May 2013 Graphic Designer - Interactive info visualization, The Purdue Exponent Newspaper

• Created illustrations, designs, and data visualizations
• Created interactive online content

May 2012-Aug 2012 Undergraduate Researcher, Purdue University, e-Lab

• Integrated computer vision systems with mobile robotics platforms as part of the Purdue Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program
• Programmed in C++ and Lua using Robot Operating System (ROS) and torch7

Jun 2011-Aug 2011 Clinical Engineering Intern, Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus, IN

• Repair, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the hospital’s medical equipment
• Developed preventative maintenance tests in Fluke Biomedical’s Ansur Software

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant

2015-2016 Biotransport - project-based / hybrid course

• student review score 4.8/5

2021 Information Processing Models in Neural Systems

• Graduate Teaching Fellow
• Prepared and delivered 4 lectures on dynamics in neural systems
• Developed interactive dynamics demonstration

Tutorials &
Guest Lectures

Recurrent Neural Networks & Cortical Dynamics -

Inkscape - vector graphics tutorial

Education

2014-2021 Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University

2010-2014 B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University

Select Courses

2017 Data science and scientific computing, Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS), Georgia Institute of Technology

2015 Mining and modeling neuroscience data, UC Berkeley

• The goal of this summer course is to help researchers find new exciting research areas and at the same time to strengthen quantitative expertise in the field of neuroscience.
• The course integrated lectures from prominent researchers in computational neuroscience, with hands-on analysis of a variety of neuroscience data sets.

2015 Machine Learning for Control Systems, Georgia Institute of Technology

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Honors & Awards

2014 - 2018 Computational Neuroscience Training Grant - NIH, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology

• This program supports cross-institute and interdisciplinary training in computational neuroscience, machine learning, and neural engineering.
• As a trainee in this program I participated in research across multiple laboratories, led journal clubs, organized retreats, and attended training at UC Berkeley.

2015 President’s Fellowship - Georgia Institute of Technology

• Through the continued support of the Georgia Tech Foundation, PFs are offered annually to a select number of highly qualified applicants who intend to pursue doctoral degrees. Fellowship recipients bring exemplary levels of scholarship and innovation to the academic departments who host their study and research.

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Publications

Journal Articles

ORCiD Google Scholar

K. Fallah, A. Willats, N. Liu, C. Rozell, “Learning sparse codes from compressed representations with biologically plausible local wiring constraints”, Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS), (2020)

M. Bolus, A. Willats, C. Rozell, G. Stanley, “State-space optimal feedback control of optogenetically driven neural activity”, Journal of Neural Engineering, (2020)

A. Cakmak, G. Poian, A. Willats, A. Haffar, R. Abdulbaki, Y. Ko, A. Shah, V. Vaccarino, D. Bliwise, C. Rozell, G. Clifford, “An unbiased, efficient sleep–wake detection algorithm for a population with sleep disorders: change point decoder”, Sleep, (2020)

M. Bolus, A. Willats, C. Whitmire, C. Rozell, G. Stanley, “Design strategies for dynamic closed-loop optogenetic neurocontrol in vivo”, Journal of Neural Engineering, (2018)

E. Chow, H. Joshi, A. Willats, D. Thompson, K. Cotton, S. Nair, C. Warren, B. Tomayko, A. Adkins, A. Shen, M. Morris, B. Byerman, “Commercial development of RF medical implantable devices”, 2013 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on RF and Wireless Technologies for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications (IMWS-BIO), (2013)

Conference Presentations

2020 When are open- and closed-loop control necessary for causal inference in neural circuits? Neuromatch.io

2018 State-aware control of neural activity: design & analysis - COSYNE II-38 in

2016 Closed loop optogenetic control of neural circuits: Tracking dynamic trajectories of neural activity - COSYNE II-42 in

2016 Understanding optogenetic stimulation strategies: a study of opsin-neuron models and their spiking behaviors - Society for Neuroscience (SfN)

Patents

G. Clifford, A. Cakmak, A. Willats, C. Rozell, “System for Automated Analysis of Sleep and Wake States”, PCT/US2020/049392, (2020)

P. Irazoqui, S. John, A. Kokini, A. Willats, A. Chelminski, M. Matuscak, G. Simon, “Optical Pressure Treatment through Electrical Stimulation”, US20190001134A1, (2020)

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Outreach & Mentoring

2020-2021 Lab Training Guide

• Initiated and developed document for helping graduate students succeed at research

2018 Georgia Intern Fellowship for Teachers (GIFT) program, Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC)

• Mentored teacher in developing curriculum centered around digital signal processing

2016-2018 Kids Interested In Technology, Engineering, and Science (KITES) festival [2018 ] [2016 ]

• Built Arduino-based recording unit for real-time signal measurement and display based on Backyard Brains EMG kit
• Helped develop activity plan for 4th grade students to plot and analyze data