Our Team
Meet the researchers and students behind BRAIN Lab @ UTA
Lab Team Members
Xi Zhu, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
I am a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Arlington, starting in January 2025. Previously, I was an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurobiology in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. I received my Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Houston and completed my postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). My background as an Electrical and Computer Engineer engaged in clinical research has equipped me with interdisciplinary expertise in AI, data-driven computational approaches, multimodal neuroimaging, and neurobiology, which I am dedicated to applying to mental health research. My research focuses on identifying brain biomarkers of psychiatric disorders using a variety of neuroimaging tools, developing machine learning and deep learning frameworks for predictive modeling, and investigating psychiatric comorbidity and its neural underpinnings to elucidate etiology, disease course, and treatment outcomes—ultimately advancing precision mental health.
Destaw Bayabil
Postdoc
Destaw completed his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Zhejiang University, where he developed virtual reality systems integrated with ultra-high-field MRI to study neural plasticity and stroke rehabilitation. His research focuses on brain connectivity, neurodegeneration, and cognitive aging. Dr. Mekbib’s work integrates advanced neuroimaging methods with computational tools to better understand brain mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Kangyi Peng
PhD student
Kangyi holds a Master's degree in Psychology from NYU and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington. Her research focuses on clinical psychology, neuroimaging, and adolescent development.
Chen Zhang
PhD Student
Chen Zhang earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Toronto, and completed her Master's degree in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness at New York University. Her research interests center on understanding the biological basis of mental health disorders, with a particular focus on identifying neuroimaging biomarkers for treatment response.
Mohammadreza(Reza) Hosseinzadehketilateh
PhD Student
Mohammadreza is a PhD student in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. His research focuses on AI-driven multimodal neuroimaging, deep generative models, and computational psychiatry, with applications to large-scale OCD studies and the development of digital brain twins.
Ada (Yumeng) Qi
PhD Student
Ada is a PhD student and a biostatistics and data science researcher with a strong interest in applying machine learning to neuropsychiatric research. She earned her Master of Science in Biostatistics from Columbia University (2025) and her Bachelor of Science in Statistics from East China Normal University (2022).
Provakar Mondol
PhD Student
Provakar's research focuses on artificial intelligence, multimodal learning, and neuroimaging for understanding psychiatric and neurological disorders. His current work involves developing deep learning models that integrate structural MRI, functional MRI, and behavioral data to investigate biomarkers and heterogeneity in disorders such as ADHD and depression. Before joining UTA, Provakar earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), Bangladesh.
Fatima Rizwan
Research Assistant
Fatima Rizwan is a recent graduate with a master's in Clinical Psychology, with a concentration in Trauma and Neuroscience from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research is strongly focused on identifying, dissecting, and mapping brain changes in relation to behavioral outcomes in anxiety- and mood-related disorders.
Hemshankar Laugi
Undergraduate Student
Hemshankar Laugi is a biomedical engineering undergraduate at the University of Texas at Arlington with minors in Mathematics and Physics. His research interests lie at the intersection of medical imaging, machine learning, protein engineering, and computational biology.
Luyu Huang
Past Contributor: Research Scientist
Luyu's research focuses on developing deep learning models to identify clinically meaningful subtypes and treatment predictors in psychiatric populations.
Arshad Jafri Shaik Mohammed
Past Contributor: Research Assistant
Arshad holds Master's degree in Data Science from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). His research focuses on applying machine learning and AI-driven approaches to biomedical applications, with particular emphasis on cognitive task analysis in psychiatric disorders.
Ivan Ramirez
Past Contributor: Undergraduate Student
Ivan Ramirez is an undergraduate student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. His academic interests span tissue engineering, neuroengineering, biomedical imaging, and AI-driven approaches to healthcare.
Join Our Team
We are always looking for motivated individuals who are passionate about computational approaches to understanding the brain and mental health.
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