Potential Research Projects

Parallel Web Access to Cloud-Hosted Giga-pixel Resolution Histopathology Images

Mentor: Dr. Esma Yildirim

Abstract: Whole-slide images are multi-resolution images with sizes in orders of multiple giga-pixels (e.g. 100000x100000 pixels at the highest resolution) generated with proprietary formats. To better utilize public access of these images stored in Cloud-storage systems (e.g. Amazon S3), this project will aim to develop RESTful services that will provide parallel access to certain resolutions and coordinates of the images based on user requests and send them to a Web client for visualization purposes. Java, REST, Javascript, HTML technologies along with Cloud storage APIs will be used in the implementation of the project. The developed service will access the WSIs stored on Cloud storage systems in parallel to decrease data transfer times. A client application will make HTTP requests for coordinates of the image and visualize it on a web page. The student will learn how to use these technologies and will be introduced to the cloud computing terminology and concepts.

Student Responsibilities:

• The student will implement a RESTful service using Java technologies and several libraries to access the cloud storage system (e.g. Amazon S3) to read a WSI dataset in parallel and test the efficiency of the service by a client application(most probably a webpage with javascript code). To enable parallel data access, the student will research about the most appropriate file format and write code to convert the WSI files into that format.
• The student will be expected to have a cloud computing account on Amazon Web services, which provides free-tier access for the first year of enrollment’ however requires a credit card information to register for an account.
• The project will span two-semesters and require the student to attend weekly meetings and spend at least 10 hours of weekly independent study.

Prerequisites:

Prior knowledge of an object-oriented programming language and Linux operating system commands is a plus. 

Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases

Mentor: Dr. Susana Pinheiro

Project description:

Mathematical modeling is a powerful tool! It helps us better understand the behavior of the world around us. The goal of this project is to introduce students to the subject of mathematical modeling through epidemiology. During the course of this project, students will learn how to build a compartmental model to describe a problem of relevance to epidemiology, and will be exposed to both qualitative and quantitative techniques enabling the analysis of the basic properties of the chosen model. More specifically, the starting point in the modelling process will be one of the well-known SIR or SIS models, with any required adjustments performed to accommodate the specific case study.

Students should expect to spend approximately 30% of the project time studying the relevant literature, 40% of the time building and studying their model, and 30% of the time writing their research and conclusions.

By the end of the project, students will need to submit a report explaining their model, research methods and conclusions. Students are also expected to present their work to the broader community (for example, at the Undergraduate Research Day or any other appropriate conference).

Final report:

The final report is expected to contain at least the following sections:

• overview of relevant existing literature
• detailed explanation of the model under consideration and its assumptions
• methods used to analyze the model and corresponding results
• conclusions

Timeline:

This research project will be conducted over a 15 week semester, with the following timeline: 

• Introduction to the research project and relevant literature: week one through twelve.
• Development and study of an epidemiological model: week one through twelve.
• The conference abstract is due one week before the abstract submission deadline.
• A first draft of the presentation/poster is due two weeks before the conference.
• Final draft of the presentation/poster is due one week before the conference.
• The final report is due during the finals week.

Students are expected to attend weekly meetings and devote 8 to 10 hours a week to this project.

Integral Transform Method for solving Fractional Differential Equations

Mentor: Dr. Lyubomir Boyadzhiev

Project description:

The project aims to make undergraduates familiar with the basic properties of some Integral Transforms, their application to derivatives of arbitrary (not necessarily integer) order (fractional derivatives) and as an immediate consequence of this, to get proficient on solving Fractional Differential Equations. The topic is one of the most intensively developing calculus areas due to a numerous applications of the derivatives and integrals of arbitrary order (FRACTIONAL CALCULUS) in medicine, chemistry, physics, engineering, finance, astronomy, fluid mechanics etc.

The student role in the project is substantial since frequently young minds propose interesting ideas with very useful applications. The expected learning outcome of the project is that undergraduates extend their competence in calculus with relatively nonstandard concept and techniques and much better to get feelings about the role of mathematics in the human life.

For successful accomplishment of the project the student needs to meet her/his mentor
weakly for at least an hour.

Other projects may also be available

Didn't see anything that interests you here?  Contact us below, and we will do our best to find a project that works for you.

To learn more about the program, contact the Research and Independent Studies Committee:

• Dr. Andrew Bulawa, Office: S-324, ABulawa@qcc.cuny.edu
• Dr. Esma Yildirim, Office: S-235B, EYildirim@qcc.cuny.edu

Click here to read about requirements.