This month, we spotlight new member Matthew Trang, who answered the following questions so we could get to know him better:
How did you become interested in statistics and/or data science?
Initially, my background was primarily in commutative algebra and algebraic geometry. I began working with my PhD adviser, Dr. Zvi Rosen, on combinatorial neural codes—a mathematical tool for studying the convexity of receptive fields in brain cells like place cells. I spent a year on this before he connected me with a neuroscience lab at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. Since then, I’ve become deeply engaged in three research problems that I find fascinating:
- Predicting the future behavior of mice based solely on the neuronal activity in specific cortical regions in response to external stimuli
- Understanding whether the behaviors will eventually stabilize or become chaotic
- Exploring how topological data analysis can be applied to non-spatial neuronal signals, particularly in identifying geometric information that reveals how mice make decisions
Working on these problems has also exposed me to many statistical aspects of data science, such as dealing with data imbalances as a natural characteristic rather than a problem, calibrating models for optimal performance, and understanding the bias-variance trade-off. Ultimately, I’ve developed a deep passion for data-driven neuroscience research and find it more fulfilling than anything else I’ve done.
What do you consider your dream job?
Currently, I am eager to pursue an opportunity for a quantitative neuroscientist position.
What do you hope understanding statistics and/or data science helps you accomplish?
I am currently focusing on exploring various deep learning architectures, particularly long short-term memory (LSTM) networks and transformers. One of my goals is to leverage these architectures to model past behaviors and predict future ones.
Is there a particular group of statisticians you would like to reach out to you?
I would be excited to hear from the Neuro Technology Center at Columbia University, especially Liam Paninski, whose book Neuronal Dynamics: From Single Neurons to Networks and Models of Cognition has been a great source of inspiration. Additionally, I would love to connect with Josh Starmer, the creator of the StatQuest YouTube channel.
What is your favorite hobby?
I used to play soccer frequently in my free time, but since the sport isn’t as popular in the US, I now typically go to the gym, where I enjoy boxing with the punching bag. I also love visiting parks, particularly a spot called Butterfly World, which is not too far from where I live.
What is something you would like people to know about you that we haven’t asked?
I am currently seeking an internship opportunity. If you happen to come across this post and you or anyone you know has an opening for a data-driven modeling project, please feel free to reach out to me via email at ttrang2019@fau.edu.
Welcome to Our Newest Members
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