Record Number of Vision Science Graduates
By Eric Craypo
Berkeley Optometry's Vision Science program conferred 15 PhDs for the class of 2019 -- the highest number of graduates in the program's history. Four of the new graduates hold OD degrees as well.
About 40 graduate students are currently enrolled in the Vision Science program. Their undergraduate backgrounds include degrees in psychology, biology, engineering, computer science, or optometry. The PhD program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of vision science research through broad exposure to the basic concepts and techniques used in specialized fields. Engaged in both laboratory-based and clinical research, our students work with faculty advisers whose research matches their own interests. Current research topics include biomedical optics, perception and visual cognition, molecular and cell biology, neuroscience, computational vision, genetics, immunology, microbiology and clinical science.
More About Our New Graduates
Alexandra E. Boehm
Spatial and Color Vision in the Absence of Retinal Motion
Chair: Austin Roorda
Kelly Byrne
Cholinergic Modulation of Perceptual Learning
Chair: Michael Silver
Patrick Carney
Steroid Hormones: Influencers of Myopic Progression?
Chair: Christine Wildsoet
Brian Cheung
The Emergence of Structured Representations in Gradient Based Learning
Chair: Bruno Olshausen
Nevin W. El-Nimri
Understanding the Link Between Myopia and Glaucoma - Clues from Intraocular Pressure and Optic Discs
Chair: Christine Wildsoet
Cécile Fortuny
Designing Novel Gene Therapies for Inherited Retinal Diseases
Chair: John Flannery
Jasmine S. Junge
Quantifying Visual Functions in Children with Cerebral Visual Impairment
Chair: Deborah Orel-Bixler
Gyeong Jin (Stella) Kang
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Corneal Lymphangiogenesis and Valvulogenesis
Chair: Lu Chen
Sarah Kochik
Modeling Myopia in Guinea Pigs
Chairs: Maria Liu & Chris Wildsoet
Mayur Mudigonda
Inference and Sensorimotor Representations in the Brain and Machines
Chair: Michael R. DeWeese
Dylan M. Paiton
An In-depth Analysis of the Locally Competitive Algorithm for Neural Coding
Chair: Bruno Olshausen
Natalie N. Stepien-Bernabe
The Impact of Technology and Presentation Mode on Reading Comprehension Among Blind and Sighted Individuals
Chair: Deborah Orel-Bixler
Stephanie Wan
Bacterial Interactions with the Ocular Surface
Chair: Suzanne Fleiszig
Jessica Wei
Lipid Mediator Regulation of Immune Cells in Inflammatory Diseases
Chair: Karsten Gronert
Thao N. Yeh
Isotretinoin Impact on Meibomian Glands and Meibum Lipid Mediators
Chair: Meng C. Lin