Computer Science foundation
Built a technical foundation in computation, systems thinking, and interdisciplinary making.
Profile
Abhay Koushik
Interdisciplinary Research Engineer and Neuroscientist working across physiological computing, computational neuroscience, human sensing, and intelligent systems.
- Research engineering
- Physiological computing
- Human-centred systems
- Machine learning & signal processing
My work sits where complex human data meets working technology. With a foundation in Computer Science, I have built research and product systems across wearable EEG, on-device machine learning, multimodal neuroimaging, full-body motion capture, XR, and behavioural experimentation.
Across laboratories, an early-stage technology company, and international research teams, I have moved between exploratory analysis and implementation: shaping experiments, building data pipelines, developing prototypes, validating methods, and communicating results. The recurring thread is translating uncertain human questions into systems that can be tested.
I am currently conducting doctoral research on deep breathing and heart–brain interactions within the Max Planck School of Cognition. Looking ahead, I am interested in research engineering and R&D work where physiological signals, intelligent systems, and human-centred technology meet.
Trajectory
A path across disciplines
Each stage added a different layer—from computation and product development to experimental cognition and human physiology.
Wearable physiological computing
Developed wearable-EEG and smartphone systems for real-time sleep staging, on-device inference, and physiological feedback.
XR product research and development
Built modules for full-body motion capture, calibration, gesture control, and movement comparison in an early-stage product environment.
Social and affective cognition
Developed and validated 3D emotional stimuli and worked with behavioural experiments at the intersection of computation and cognition.
Interoception and gut–brain research
Developed HRV Toolbox pipelines for placebo-controlled synbiotic gut–brain trials.
Multimodal neuroscience
Built analysis pipelines spanning EEG, fMRI, and PET-informed brain maps for biomarker-oriented research investigating drug effects.
Doctoral research
Investigating deep breathing and heart–brain interactions through neurophysiological and experimental research.
Recognition
Selected achievements
Selected recognition spanning research mobility, conference support, bioengineering, and interdisciplinary prototyping.
MIRES Scholarship of Excellence
International mobility scholarship supporting postgraduate study at Université de Paris.
Charpak Master Full Scholarship
Full tuition and stipend support for master's study in France; awarded and renewed.
iGEM Gold Medal & Best Manufacturing Project
Team recognition for work on minicells as a platform for safer, distributed biological manufacturing.
Best OpenAI Hack
Endangered Tales — an early GPT-3 generative storytelling prototype for biodiversity communication.
Global Community Bio Fellow
Selected as a leadership fellow, completed training in public leadership for the life sciences, and collaborated with the MIT Superminds team on a collective-intelligence project.
NSF Student Travel Award
Travel support for an invited oral presentation on real-time smartphone-based sleep staging in Chicago.
Best Hardware Hack at Harvard
MagneTalk — a magnetometer-based silent-speech and assistive human–machine interface prototype.
Current direction
Building from evidence
I am drawn to work that requires both analytical depth and the discipline to turn ideas into reliable tools, prototypes, and decisions.