Principal Investigator
Jack Virostko, Ph.D., MSCI
Jack Virostko is an Associate Professor of Diagnostic Medicine in the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. He also holds courtesy appointments in the LiveStrong Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, and The Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences.
Dr. Virostko is a biomedical engineer and imaging scientist. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. Following completion of his doctorate, Dr. Virostko completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation from the Vanderbilt University Medical School.
Dr. Virostko mentors junior investigators across the translational spectrum, spanning engineering and computer science through medical students. He also serves as Director of Research for the Diagnostic Radiology Residency and Associate Chair of Research for the Diagnostic Medicine department.
Research Coordinators
Ingrid Harris
Ingrid graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2020 with a B.S. in Human Biology and completed an MPH in Epidemiology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2023. She is passionate about public health and is particularly interested in the ways that data can be applied to address infectious and chronic diseases as well as health disparities. She is an Austin native and enjoys hiking, reading, and traveling in her spare time.
Research Assistants
Katherine Huang
Katherine graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2023 with a B.S.A. in Neuroscience and a Bridging Disciplines Program certificate in Patients, Practitioners, and Cultures of Health. With a love for creativity and working with her hands, she finds joy in perfecting her skills, whether it’s suturing, sketching, or serving a floater in a volleyball game. She is passionate about advocating for individuals facing complex health challenges, particularly in reproductive justice. Driven by a desire to challenge traditional boundaries and inspire change through research and advocacy, she believes that while perfection may not always be unattainable, it serves as an asymptote to ceaselessly strive toward in the pursuit of progress.
Student Researchers
Tony Zhu
Tony is a first year pre-med student majoring in biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. His interests include exploring how medical imaging can be improved through data science, as well as making diagnostic care and patient literacy resources more accessible. With Dr. Virostko, Tony is currently working to analyze diffusion MRI images of the pancreas in patients with type 1 diabetes. In his free time he enjoys rock climbing at the Austin Bouldering Project and is always searching for new places to eat around Austin!
Veda Chinapuvvula
Veda Chinapuvvula is a sophomore majoring in Computer Science on the pre-med track at the University of Texas at Austin. She is interested in exploring the intersection of technology and healthcare, specifically in the way that AI/ML can advance patient care and diagnoses. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, cafe hopping, and reading!
Umair Rehman
Umair is a second year undergraduate biology student at UT Austin. His passion is to learn about human anatomy which drives him to participate in research related to the human body. Umair is analyzing the shape of the pancreas and quantifying morphological changes that accompany the development of disease. In the future, Umair hopes to go to medical school and become a doctor to fulfill his passion. Outside the academic realm, Umair enjoys watching soccer and playing esports video games.
Josephine Do
Josephine Do is a sophomore majoring in Finance and on the pre-med track at The University of Texas at Austin. She is passionate about combining her background in statistical analyses with a fervent dedication to advancing healthcare in innovative ways. In the future, she plans to go to medical school. Outside of school, Josephine enjoys watching movies and hiking to waterfalls!
Joel Fastman
Joel is a a junior majoring in psychology in the Liberal Arts Honors program on the pre-med track at the University of Texas at Austin. He is passionate about understanding and improving care for people with chronic illnesses, especially through research on type 1 diabetes. Outside of the lab, he enjoys lifting weights, spending time outdoors, and discovering new music.
William Lee
William is a first-year student at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in computational biology and minoring in statistics and data science. He is interested in machine learning applications for medical imaging and improving diagnostic accuracy. Outside of academia, he enjoys playing piano, swimming, and weightlifting.
Emmersyn Abrahams
Emmersyn is a sophomore pre-med student majoring in Biology with a Business minor at UT Austin. She is interested in combining computational biology with diagnostic medicine to develop innovative tools that improve patient care. Outside of academics, Emmersyn likes to read, bake, and explore Austin!
Meredith Kenoff
Meredith is a third-year neuroscience student at the University of Texas at Austin. She is passionate about combining scientific knowledge with meaningful patient interactions and is especially interested in how clinical research can improve patient care. Meredith is involved in the Maternal Abdominal Morphology Assessment (MAMA) study, where she is excited to contribute as a research assistant and phlebotomist. Beyond academics, Meredith is an avid dog lover who enjoys traveling, exploring Austin, and spending time with her friends and family.
Sarah Xu
Sarah is a third year Human Biology major with a certificate in Computational Engineering and Science and Pre-Health Professions at The University of Texas at Austin. She passionate about understanding and improving maternal and pediatric health care for people with chronic illnesses. Outside of the lab, her hobbies include reading, singing karaoke, and dancing.
Kushaan Sharma
Kushaan is a biomedical engineering major on the pre-med track at The University of Texas at Austin. With research spanning AI/ML for digital pathology, genetics, and MRI analysis, Kushaan is passionate about using computation to advance patient care. He plans to attend medical school and, outside of academics, enjoys hiking and spending time with friends.
Eleazar (Eli) Gonzalez-Adame
Eleazar (Eli) is a fourth-year Biochemistry major and Rhetoric & Writing minor from McAllen, Texas. He’s interested in medical and applied biomedical research, particularly in areas like diabetes, which has had a significant impact on both his hometown and his family. Eli hopes to contribute to research that bridges lab work and real-world health outcomes. Outside of academics, he’s always on the lookout for the best tacos in Austin.
Riya Jadeja
Riya is a junior at The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Healthcare Reform and Innovation and Studio Art. She is passionate about integrating healthcare and the arts to better understand and communicate the complexities of the human brain. Beyond the lab, Riya works as a Medical Assistant, where she supports patient care in a clinical setting, and volunteers at Dell Children’s Medical Center.
Anushka Ranjan
Anushka is a senior Public Health major with a minor in Healthcare Industry Reform & Innovation at UT Austin. She is passionate about improving maternal-fetal health, with a focus on early detection of conditions like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes through advanced bioimaging. In her free time, Anushka is a camp counselor, plays pickleball, and loves exploring new pho spots around Austin!
Mahith Ravulapati
Mahith is a pre-med student in Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He is interested in using emerging diagnostic technologies to further the analysis of fetal imagery, as well as identifying correlations in maternal hereditary maternal diabetes. In his free time, Mahith loves to play chess, basketball, or go on morning runs.
Tarini Jonnadula
Tarini is a freshman pre-med student majoring in Public Health. She has a strong passion for maternal/child health and is excited to be assisting with the MAMA study. Outside of the lab, Tarini enjoys going to concerts, traveling, and exploring new places.
Emma Azizi
Emma Azizi is a first-year biology student at the University of Texas at Austin. She’s interested in learning about correlations in maternal hereditary maternal diabetes. Emma is involved in the Maternal Abdominal Morphology Assessment (MAMA) study, where she is excited to contribute as a research assistant. Beyond academics, Emma loves to explore Austin, run, read books and spend time with her friends and family.
James Xu
James Xu is a Sophomore Pre-med student majoring in Chemical Engineering. He has experience with benchwork at Houston Methodist Research Institute and Baylor College of Medicine. He is exploring the use of MATLAB for image analysis of colorectal cancer. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering, hanging out with friends, and running/biking!
Mahika Patlola
Mahika is a freshman from Round Rock, Texas, double majoring in Health & Society and Plan II Honors. Through her work with the Maternal Abdominal Morphology Assessment (MAMA) Study, she aims to improve maternal-fetal health through diagnostic medicine. She is committed to health promotion, advancing health equity, and better understanding gaps in healthcare access and outcomes. Outside the lab, she loves to dance and read classics!
Purnoor Sharma
Purnoor is a Computer Science major minoring in Data Science and Business at The University of Texas at Austin. She’s passionate about using AI/ML to develop tools that advance breakthroughs in healthcare, with a specific interest in developing imaging models that improve the detection of cancer and diabetes. She is also the founder of The Resolve, a social venture focused on using crowdsourced intelligence to solve cold cases. Outside of the lab, you can find her on the tennis courts, listening to The Marias, or hunting for her next favorite coffee spot.
Abbey Seelman
Abbey Seelman is a first-year public health and neuroscience double major on the pre-medical track at the University of Texas at Austin. She is interested in enhancing maternal and fetal health through advancements in diagnostic medicine, reflected in her work on the Maternal Abdominal Morphology Assessment Study. Outside of academics, she enjoys going on long walks and playing Mahjong.
Sophie Charlton
Sophie is a third-year Plan II and psychology double major on the pre-med track at the University of Texas at Austin. By participating in the Maternal Abdominal Morphology Assessment (MAMA) study, she hopes to improve fetal outcomes by examining the effects of gestational diabetes on fetal physiology. She is very interested in the intersection between health outcomes and the social determinants of health, and how access to diagnostic medicine can bridge some of these barriers. Outside of the lab, Sophie loves to explore Austin, read, and paint.