Jeremiah (Miah) Wander
Principal Researcher
CV
EDUCATION
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Ph. D. in Bioengineering 2015
Research focus: Brain-computer interfaces using population level cortical signals (electrocorticography and electroencephalography). Discovery and quantification of network-scale activity patterns related to cognitive processes surrounding BCI use.
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, B.S. in Computer Engineering 2005
Honors: Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
Principal Researcher 2015 – Present
Principal researcher in Microsoft Health Futures. Research foci have ranged from developing and evaluating next-generation sensing technologies and platforms for clinical-grade non-invasive monitoring of cardiovascular health to creation of novel ML/AI methods for delivery of precision medicine. Manage an international, multi-organization collaboration on the development of new AI-driven methods for the diagnosis of rare disease.
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Graduate Research Assistant 2010 – 2015
Researcher working in an interdisciplinary, collaborative research group, co-advised by Dr. Jeff Ojemann and Dr. Rajesh Rao. Utilized brain-computer interfaces to investigate various phenomena of the central nervous system, including novel task learning, neural plasticity, sensorimotor processing of feedback, and control of external devices. Developed extensive technical expertise in biosignal amplification and digitization, digital signal processing and big data mining and management. Mentored REUs through the CSNE ERC as well as other undergraduates and acted as liaison for my research group in many collaborations with other research teams. Developed an Android OS-based brain-computer interface research platform. Extensively involved as a student leader with the UW’s Neural Engineering ERC, the Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering.
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
Research Intern – Microsoft Research 2013
Developed a suite of real-time algorithms for automated signal quality identification of ambulatory heart rate and pulse signals, utilizing machine learning and other statistical methods. Designed and completed an 11-subject study for the purposes of algorithm training and verification. During the 12 week internship was tasked with developing proficiency in the field of heart rate sensing, generating a focused research question, collecting data, developing algorithms, and authoring of a publication to present our findings.
Fundación Progreso Guanacaste, Guanacaste, CR
Volunteer Project Manager / Math Teacher 2009 – 2010
Volunteered full-time for a non-profit housing and education initiative in Costa Rica. Planned and executed a multi-home construction projects with a budget of more than $250,000. Was accountable for scheduling and achieving project milestones. Managed a multi-lingual team of five professionals, 20 construction workers and multiple volunteer groups. Participated in all phases of construction, and was the principal electrician on the project.
Tutored university-bound Costa Rican students in math subjects ranging from arithmetic to calculus.
NCSRT, Inc., Apex, NC
Electrical Engineer 2006 – 2008
Performed power systems and automation control development, assembly and testing roles for OEM biopharmaceutical filtration skids. Lead technical engineer and programmer for RSLogix-based control system, HMI and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems development. Utilized GAMP manufacturing practices and was heavily involved in documentation assembly and verification for FDA approval processes. Heavily utilized AutoCAD for both mechanical and electrical design. Programmed, troubleshot and developed standard practices for a Motoman automated assembly robot. Performed duties as project lead on a number of filtration-related projects and coordinated efforts between NCSRT, its vendors and/or customers. Conducted customer demonstrations and onsite certifications and installations. Due to the small nature of the company gained various experiences in everything ranging from mechanical engineering to marketing, including work flow, quality inspection, and purchasing.
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Research Intern – Biomedical Systems 2005
Developed data acquisition system for bionic device intended for the rehabilitation of stroke patients with impaired hand mobility. Engineered a biometric amplifier and data acquisition system to be used as a portable EMG for servo control and progress measurement. Primarily Italian-speaking work environment.
IBM Corp., Raleigh, NC
Co-op Programmer 2002 – 2005
Application development in Java and C for embedded platforms, primarily in device interfacing and navigation systems. Coded from hardware control stack to Application and UI levels. Created a testing framework for our department’s products. Constructed software package tutorials. Mentored new Co-ops. Developed hardware proficiency working with a wide variety of devices and microprocessors.
TEACHING / MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
Graduate Research Intern Program 2015 – Present
Mentored and co-mentored over a dozen graduate students through the Graduate Research Intern program at Microsoft Research. Twelve week internships covered topics included medical device development and testing, biosignal processing, application of deep learning to biomedical signals, development of novel deep learning methods for assessing loci under positive selection, and leveraging GWAS and other results from genomic biobanks for prioritization of genomic variants in rare disease diagnostics.
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Teaching Assistant – CSE/Neubeh 528 Computational Neuroscience 2013
Was the sole teaching assistant for an interdisciplinary course on computational neuroscience. Course topics ranged from compartmental axonal models to BCI decoding methods to artificial neural networks. Students came from diverse backgrounds and successful teaching required effective communication of the background knowledge that was appropriate to each student.
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
STEM Outreach Mentor, CSNE 2012-
Built an EMG-based, competitive virtual arm wrestling device as a demonstration of neural engineering principles. Using this device, participated in numerous outreach events for K-12 students from a variety of backgrounds. These events included the National Science and Engineering Fair in Washington DC; Brain awareness week in Seattle, WA; and the PAWS on Science festival in Seattle, WA. Have had the opportunity to present and discuss principles of neural engineering more than a thousand young students.
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
[1] JD Wander, et al. Distributed cortical adaptation during learning of a brain–computer interface task (2013). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
[2] L A Johnson, J D Wander, D Sarma, D K Su, E E Fetz and J G Ojemann. Direct electrical stimulation of the somatosensory cortex in humans using electrocorticography electrodes: a qualitative and quantitative report (2013). Journal of Neural Engineering, 10(3), 036021.
[3] JD Wander, RPN Rao. Brain-computer interfaces: a powerful tool for scientific discovery. Current Opinion in Neurobiology 2014, 25:70-75.
[4] JD Wander, D Morris. A combined segmenting and non-segmenting approach to signal quality estimation for ambulatory photoplethysmography. (2014) Journal of Physiological Measurement, 35 (12), 2543.
[5] H Sun, TM Blakely, F Darvas, JD Wander, LA Johnson, DK Su, KJ Miller, EE Fetz, JG Ojemann. Sequential activation of premotor, primary somatosensory and primary motor areas in humans during cued finger movements (2015). Clinical Neurophysiology.
[6] JD Olson, JD Wander, L Johnson, D Sarma, K Weaver, EJ Novotny, JG Ojemman, F Darvas. Comparison of subdural and subgaleal recordings of cortical high-gamma activity in humans. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2016.
[7] K Weaver, JD Wander, A Ko, K Casimo, T Grabowski, JG Ojemann, F Darvas. Directional patterns of cross frequency phase and amplitude coupling within the resting state mimic patterns of fMRI functional connectivity. Neuroimage, 2016.
[8] LA Johnson, JD Wander, D Sarma, D Su, EE Fetz, JG Ojemann. Direct electrical stimulation of the somatosensory cortex in humans using electrocorticography electrodes: a qualitative and quantitative report. Journal of Neural Engineering, 2016.
[9] K Casimo, F Darvas, JD Wander, A Ko, T Grabowski, E Novotny, A Poliakov, JG Ojemann, KE Weaver. Regional patterns of cortical phase synchrony in the resting state. Brain Connectivity, 2016.
[10] JD Wander, D Sarma, LA Johnson, EE Fetz, RPN Rao, JG Ojemann, F Darvas. Cortico-cortical interactions during acquisition and use of a neuroprosthetic skill. PLoS Computational Biology, 2016.
[11] JD Olson, JD Wander, F Darvas. Demonstration of motor-related beta and high gamma brain signals in subdermal electroencephalography recordings. Clinical Neurophysiology, 2016.
[12] K Casimo, KE Weaver, JD Wander, JG Ojemann. BCI use and its relation to adaptation in cortical networks. IEEE TSNRE, 2017.
[14] CH Kuo, TM Blakely, JD Wander, D Sarma, J Wu, K Casimo, KE Weaver, JG Ojemann. Context-dependent relationship in high-resolution micro-ecog studies during finger movements. Journal of Neurosurgery, 2019.
[15] NR Wilson, D Sarma, JD Wander, KE Weaver, JG Ojemann, RPN Rao. Cortical topography of error-related high-frequency potentials during erroneous control in a continuous control brain–computer interface. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2019.
[16] R Mieloszyk, et al. A comparison of wearable tonometry, photoplethysmography, and electrocardiography for cuffless measurement of blood pressure in an ambulatory setting. IEEE JBHI, 2022.
REFEREED CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
[1] JD Wander, JD Olson, JG Ojemann, RPN Rao. Cortically-derived error-signals during BCI use. Proceedings of the 13th Annual BCI Meeting, Asilomar, CA, June, 2013.
[2] JD Wander, RPN Rao, JG Ojemann. Multiple roles of ventral premotor cortex in BCI task learning and execution. Proceedings of the 6th International Brain-Computer Interface Conference, Graz, Austria, 2014.
[3] Jared Olson, Jeremiah Wander, Felix Darvas. Subdermal recording of high gamma cortical signals for brain machine interfacing. Proceedings of the Annual meeting of the Association for Academic Physiatrists, San Antonio, March, 2015.
[4] McDuff, et al. SCAMPS: Synthetics for Camera Measurement of Physiological Signals. NeurIPS, 2022.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
[1] JD Wander, T Blakely, LA Johnson, F Darvas, KJ Miller, RPN Rao, JG Ojemann. Dynamics of distributed cortical activity demonstrated over the course of learning to use a brain-computer interface. Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, New Orleans, LA, October, 2012.
[2] L Johnson, JD Wander, C Dickey, S Marihugh. Wireless EMG-controlled car: a demonstration of sensorimotor neural engineering. Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, New Orleans, LA, October, 2012.
[3] KE Weaver, JD Wander, EJ Novotny, T Grabowski, TM Blakely, JG Ojemann. High gamma suppression in the default mode network in children: electrocorticographic findings. Proceedings of the 42nd Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, New Orleans, LA, October, 2012.
[4] H Sun, T Blakely, F Darvas, JD Wander, KJ Miller, and JG Ojemann. Temporal interactions between somatosensory and motor cortices during cued finger pinch movement in humans. Proceedings of the 19th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Seattle, WA, June, 2013.
[5] JD Wander, DP Sarma, JD Olson, KJ Miller, T Blakely, RPN Rao, JG Ojemann. Cortical representation of cognitive state in a graded-difficulty BCI task. Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, San Diego, CA, November, 2013.
[6] H Sun, T Blakely, F Darvas, JD Wander, LA Johnson, D Su, KJ Miller, EE Fetz, JG Ojemann. Sequential activation of premotor, primary somatosensory, and primary motor areas in humans during cued finger movements. Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, San Diego, CA, November, 2013.
[7] JD Wander, DP Sarma, V Paramasivam. Competitive EMG-based gaming platform as a demonstration of the principles of sensorimotor neural engineering. Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, San Diego, CA, November, 2013.
[8] JD Olson, JD Wander, K Weaver, DP Sarma, F Darvas, JG Ojemann (2014). Electrophysiological representation of proprioception in the cerebral cortex. Proceedings of the Annual meeting of the Association for Academic Physiatrists, Nashville, TN, February, 2014.
[9] JD Wander, RPN Rao, JG Ojemann (2014). Multi-region goal inference improves performance in an invasive brain-computer interface task. 1st Annual Neurofutures conference, Seattle, WA, June, 2014.
[10] JD Wander, D Sarma, K Weaver, RPN Rao, JG Ojemann, F Darvas. Non-linear cortical interactions during brain-computer interface use. Proceedings of the 44th Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, Washington, DC November, 2014.
[11] Sarma D, Wu J, Kumar V, Wander JD, Blakely TM, Todorov E, Ojemann JG, Rao RPN. Novel electrocorticographic brain-computer interface framework for dexterous robotic control. Proceedings of the 44th Annual Society for Neuroscience conference, Washington, DC November, 2014.
[12] JD Wander, D Morris, D Tan. Aurora – A Noninvasive, wrist-worn device for ambulatory hemodynamic monitoring. Circulation 132, 2015.
[13 ] CH Kuo, D Sarma, T Blakely, J Wu, JD Wander, J Olson, K Collins, D Caldwell, J Cronin, K Casimo, R Rao, J Ojemann. High Resolution Micro-ECoG Studies of Human Sensorimotor Cortex during Finger Movements. Journal of Neurosurgery, 2017.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
[1] Multiple workshops at the 1st annual Indian Winter School and Conference on Computational Aspects of Neural Engineering. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. December, 2012.
[2] “Improving functionality of semi-invasive brain-computer interfaces through novel input and output pathways” Research Seminar Series – Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Consortium, Center for Integrated Brain Research, Seattle, WA. November, 2013.
[3] “Advances in semi-invasive brain-computer interfaces at the University of Washington” International Workshop for the Cognitive Development of Friendly Robotics, Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, Italy. December, 2013.
[4] “Toward digital health at scale: Sensing and analytics” Keystone symposium on digital health. Keystone, CO. January, 2019.
[5] “The Power of Presenting Negative Results,” co-presented with Becky Mieloszyk. Grace Hopper Celebration, Orlando FL, September 2023.
PATENTS
[1] Blood pressure estimation by wearable computing device. S Basu, D Morris, J Wander. Issued, USPTO 2020.
[2] Wearable pulse sensing device signal quality estimation. D Morris, S Basu, J Wander, GR Smith, TS Saponas. Issued, USPTO 2020.
[3] Photoplethysmogram device with skin temperature regulator. S Gupta, JB Lester, J Wander, J De Souza. Issued, USPTO 2021.
[4] Machine-learning models for predicting decompensation risk. S Basu, J Wander, D Morris. Issued, USPTO 2023.
HONORS
1st Place, 1st annual CSNE Tech Sandbox Competition 2013
Advanced to Investment round, UW Business Plan Competition 2012
UW Computational Neuroscience Training Grant 2012 – 2013
UW Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering Seed Grant 2011
NCSU Electrical Engineering Department and Computer Engineering Department Valedictorian 2005
NCSU Lockheed Martin, Progress Energy, & John Deere Scholar 2001 – 2005
National Merit Scholar
2000
MEMBERSHIPS / ACTIVITIES
Member, American Heart Association (2015 – 2020)
Member, Society for Neuroscience (2010 – 2015)
Vice President, Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering Student Leadership Team (2012 – 2014)
Vice-president of Marketing, UW Science and Engineering Business Association (2011 – 2013)
Member, Neural Engineering Outreach Program (2011 – 2012)
OTHER SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS
An avid woodworker; Fluent in Spanish; GAMP4 and NEC2005 trained; Proficient with Python, MATLAB, C#, Java, C++, C; familiar with Perl and PHP; Experienced in Android OS device development; Expert in MATLAB biosignal analysis; Proficient with AutoCAD, Adobe Create Suite, the Eclipse IDE, Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft Office Suite, GIMP, SketchUp and Tucker Davis RpvdsEX/OpenEx; Enjoys snowboarding, climbing, and fishing; Toured the Eastern US as a professional musician.