Address

20 Staniford Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

Contact Information

Email: hrana1 at meei.harvard.edu

Hannah Rana, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

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Biography

Dr. Rana is a Schmidt Science Fellow working on developing models for structure-function correlations for the human eye anatomy and models that artificially reconstruct the neural code of a healthily operating retina, using experimental data from retinal spikes measured over large detector arrays whilst subjected to varying light stimuli. The ultimate aim of the latter work is to reconstruct an artificial retina, which can be used to inspire the design of a physical retinal prosthetic device for vision restoration for the blind. She pivots her knowledge gained in developing detector systems for astrophysics applications to solving neural detection problems in the human retina. Her interests include applying machine learning, deep learning, computer vision and optimization methods to neural coding and circuitry, detector devices, and instrument design for ophthalmology applications.

Education

  1. 2023-Present

    Schmidt Science Fellow

    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School
  2. 2023-Present

    Schmidt Science Fellow

    Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  3. 2022-2023

    Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  4. 2022-2022

    Visiting Research Fellow

    California Institute of Technology
  5. 2021

    PhD in Astrophysics Instrumentation

    University of Oxford

Professional Appointments

  1. 2021-Present
    Technical Program Manager & Founding Member
    Neutron Star Systems
  2. 2015-2017
    Spacecraft Engineer
    European Space Agency
  3. 2014-2015
    Applied Physicist
    European Organization for Nuclear Research

Awards

  • 2023
    Cryogenic Society of America Scholarship
    Cryogenic Society of America
  • 2022
    Schmidt Science Fellowship
    Schmidt Family Foundation
  • 2022
    Forbes 30 Under 30 – Science category
    Forbes
  • 2019
    Amelia Earhart Fellowship
    Zonta International
  • 2019
    THK Frederking Student Scholarship
    University of Oxford
  • 2018
    United Nations COPUOS Travel Grant
    United Nations COPUOS
  • 2017
    Honeywell Aerospace Fellowship
    Honeywell