Melvin Osei Opoku

Hello, I'm

Melvin Osei Opoku

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Get in Touch: oseimelvin@gmail.com

About Me

Learn about my Journey to the USđŸ‡ș🇾

Princeton Neuroscience Institute Poster Presentation

Motivation

What is the difference between the mind and the brain?

The ongoing debate about the mind-body problem highlights just how little we know about the human brain. Despite all our technological advancements, we’re still far from answering some of the most fundamental questions.

My own curiosity has led me to explore how basic sensory-motor activities are decoded in the brain, with the ultimate goal of curing blindness through neural engineering.

While this goal may seem distant now, I invite you to join me on this journey as we delve into the wonders of science.

Resume

As of August 2024

Education

BSc Biomedical Engineering, Minor in Electrical Engineering, Certificate in AI Fundamentals and Application

May 2026

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

  • Honors Program
  • Focus in Neural Engineering

Research Experience

Undergraduate Research Assistant

August 2023 - Present

Brain Mapping Lab, University of Florida, Gainesville

  • Analyse neural data from Tourette patients in a Deep Brain Stimulation clinical study
  • Develop machine learning algorithm for video-based automated detection of motor and vocal tics

Research Intern

June 2024 - August 2024

Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

  • Computational analysis of Drosophila’s neural wiring diagram to uncover neural computation of the visual system
  • Mapped visual neurons’ functional data to FlyWire’s neural wiring diagram

Research and Development Intern

January 2023 – December 2023

American Society of Pharmacognosy, University of Florida, Gainesville

  • Screened and biosynthesized new terpene synthase functions, advancing biotech applications
  • Conducted molecular docking and mutations of proteins to characterize enzymatic activity
  • Co-authored two published research papers

INVOLVEMENT & SERVICE

Product Design

August 2023 – Present

Generational Relief in Prosthetics, University of Florida | Gainesville, FL

  • Designed and optimized the “Unlimbited” prosthetic arm using SolidWorks
  • 3D printed and conducted non-destructive testing on the prosthetic arm

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

August 2023 – December 2023

Secrets of Alchemy, University of Florida | Gainesville, FL

  • Graded lab reports and provide helpful feedback
  • Held office hours to a class of 60 students
  • Assisted instructor in preparing the lab, supporting students during lab, and cleaning up after

Resident Assistant

August 2023 – Present

Housing and Residential Life, University of Florida | Gainesville, FL

  • Devise events to encourage community belonging among 32 residents
  • Enforce community standards and policies to ensure a safe and supportive living environment
  • Serve in an on-call rotation by responding to emergencies and crises

Director of International Students Affairs

August 2022 – May 2024

Student Government, University of Florida | Gainesville, FL

  • Administered mentorship to international students to ensure VISA status management
  • Planned events to facilitate international students’ involvement on campus

Awards

As of August 2024

University Scholars Program

$1750 research stipend for my work in the Brain Mapping Lab. I develop a ML algorithm for automation of tic detection

UF Hamilton Center Society Fellow

$2,500 stipend and a funded trip to Oxford and Cambridge University

Certificate of Outstanding Merit

from the College of Engineering in recognition of my work as an international student

Davis United World Scholar

$192,000 fully funded University of Florida undergraduate degree

American Society of Pharmacognosy

$5000 research stipend in support of my work at the Rudolf Lab working on natural products synthesis

Research Projects

As of August 2024

  • All
  • Ongoing
  • Completed
  • Publications-Posters

ML Automation of Tourette Tic Detection

for patients with deep brain stimulation devices

Neural Wiring Data Analysis

of the optic lobe of a drosophila with reference to functional data

Natural Products Discovery

using biosynthetic pathways

First Publication

Co-authord a biosynthesis paper

Second Publication

Manuscript available, yet to be published

Natural products poster

American Society of Pharmacognosy

Connectomics Poster

Princeton Neuroscience Institute

Let's get Personal 😊

Learn about my hobbies and interests!

1. How do I spend my free time??

Aside watching brain videos, I play soccer and watch the Premiere League(Manchester United Fan here!).

2. What is my secrete talent?

Singing, a lot of Coldplay!

3. Fav Movie or Seires?

It's gotta be The Office! Fav movie is hard to pick but i'll choose the "before" triology

4. How do I wind down after a long day?

Running and debating philosophical ideas with friends

5. Fun fact most people don't know about me?

I am the worst African dancer

Let's Work Together đŸ€

Email

oseimelvin@gmail.com