Los Angeles, California, United States
I'm a graduate student at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, one of the world's leading programs dedicated to aging research and innovation. My work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, assistive technology, and elder care ā an area I believe will define the future of healthcare. Currently, I serve as a Research Assistant at the HEAT Lab (Keck School of Medicine, USC), where I help develop AI-powered voice assistants for patients with aphasia. My work involves participating in HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions, analyzing clinical data, and conducting qualitative coding to help personalize AI tools for aging populations. This research has led to a co-authored paper currently under review and a poster accepted to the 2026 ASHA Annual Convention. Before USC, I spent nearly three years as a Research Assistant at the Department of Neurobiology, Xuanwu Hospital in Beijing, supporting clinical research on Parkinson's disease and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. I also have hands-on patient care experience as a Physical Therapist Helper at the Long Island State Veterans Home, and as a Social Worker Assistant at an adult day healthcare center in Los Angeles. I'm bilingual in English and Mandarin, which has been invaluable in working with diverse patient populations and collaborating with international research teams. I'm actively seeking summer internship opportunities in AI health tech, digital health, or aging technology where I can apply my research background and technical skills (Python, data analysis, qualitative research) to real-world healthcare challenges. š© Feel free to connect or reach out at [email protected] ā I'd love to chat!
ā¢ Contributed to the development of a personalized AI voice assistant for patients with aphasia as part of a federally-relevant telehealth research initiative ā¢ Participated in 24 HIPAA-compliant remote sessions with patients, caregivers, and speech-language clinicians, directly observing clinical needs that informed AI design ā¢ Conducted qualitative coding of session transcripts and analyzed protected health information under clinical supervision to identify patterns in patient communication and care needs ā¢ Coordinated patient scheduling and maintained ongoing communication via email, ensuring smooth session logistics across a multi-stakeholder research team ā¢ Co-authored a manuscript currently under peer review on voice assistive technology for persons with aphasia (Carroll-Alfano, Price, Feldman, Ko, Yu et al.) ā¢ Poster accepted to the 2026 American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Annual Convention, Indianapolis, IN
ā¢ Provided direct support to adult day healthcare clients, assisting with daily activities, social engagement, and care coordination ā¢ Collaborated with an interdisciplinary care team to address the psychosocial and medical needs of elderly clients ā¢ Facilitated communication between clients, families, and clinical staff to ensure continuity and quality of care
ā¢ Supported the delivery of USC Marshall's 10-day "AI and Business Innovation" summer credit program, which enrolled students from partner universities internationally ā¢ Assisted with program logistics including campus tours, lab visits, guest lectures, and cultural activities for international student participants ā¢ Contributed to a program covering AI applications in business decision-making, market forecasting, supply chain optimization, and product development ā¢ Gained direct exposure to USC's AI research laboratory and interdisciplinary AI-business curriculum, reinforcing professional skills in program coordination and cross-cultural communication ā¢ Served as a bilingual resource (English & Mandarin) supporting Chinese-speaking international participants throughout the program
ā¢ Assisted in clinical research on Parkinson's disease and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder within an active neurology department at one of China's leading hospitals ā¢ Collected and managed longitudinal patient data including neurological assessments, diagnostic records, and medical histories for research analysis ā¢ Supported data analysis using Python and Excel; contributed to literature reviews and biomarker identification research ā¢ Maintained strict patient confidentiality and compliance with clinical research protocols throughout a 3-year appointment
ā¢ Managed audio-visual production for weekly services and large events using Final Cut Pro and professional video editing tools ā¢ Coordinated with team members to ensure high-quality live and recorded productions