Assistant Professor Zeda Li Wins National Science Foundation Grant
September 6, 2024
Zeda Li, a Baruch College assistant professor at the Zicklin School of Business’s Paul H. Chook Department of Information Systems and Statistics, has won a National Science Foundation grant for his project entitled, “Covariate-Assisted Analysis of Spectral Matrices with Applications to Physiological Signal.”
Researchers across many different fields study physiological signals over time to understand how our bodies work and advance our health. Examples of these signals include data generated by electroencephalography (EEG), which measures electrical activity in the brain; or functional magnetic resource imaging (fMRI), which measures changes in blood flow that occur with brain activity. To study these physiological signals in detail, researchers use statistical quantities known as “spectral matrices,” but statistical methods for analyzing spectral matrices under modern study designs have not been formalized.
Dr. Li’s project, for which he received upwards of $225,000, aims to close this methodological gap. His main objectives are to simplify analysis of these matrices and to devise a new method of visualizing relationships between different sets of data over time. set of tools that can reveal the hidden valuable information contained in these signals
“Methods to be developed in this project will help researchers better understand, diagnose, and treat many diseases,” Li said. He added that his project will incorporate personalized training and mentoring for graduate and undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups.
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