Ph.D. Student Jennifer Giordano Awarded Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute Fellowship

August 2023

Jennifer Giordano, a third-year Ph.D. student in the Schmidt College of Science’s Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences and member of the Rubin and Cindy Gruber Sandbox, has been chosen as a Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute Fellow for the Spring 2024 semester.

“Being recognized as a fellow at the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute is an honor,” said Giordano. “I’m eager to contribute and immerse myself in the exciting research ahead.”

As a fellow, Giordano is tasked with delving deep into research and exploring innovative methodologies, in particular, studying medical data. These insights will hopefully serve as a springboard for the broader scientific community to further the discipline. The fellowship will also allow her to explore methods for processing medical imaging data that can be used securely and efficiently with AI applications.

“Current AI techniques typically require data decryption for analysis, introducing vulnerability to security threats,” explained Giordano. “My research aims to design a model that efficiently processes encrypted medical data, balancing security and performance. Securely analyzing medical data with AI will likely lead to new insights into understanding healthcare and disease.”

Last January, Florida Atlantic celebrated the official opening of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute at its John D. MacArthur campus in Jupiter. The multimillion-dollar, 58,000-square-foot facility was made possible by a transformative $10 million gift from David J.S. Nicholson, along with the state of Florida and several university research partners, including the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience.

The FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute supports research, education, and community outreach, with efforts spanning all of FAU’s campuses. It aims to serve as a “beacon of hope” for the study and amelioration of numerous brain and behavioral disorders.