Sue Ann Mah
New Zealand,Auckland
Summary
Highly motivated bioengineering doctoral researcher with a strong background in neurogastroenterology, gastrointestinal (GI) electrophysiology, machine learning, image processing, and analysis. Committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge through cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Ability to effectively communicate technical/ scientific work via peer-reviewed scientific publications, conference proceedings, and international/national conference presentations, with three years of valuable industrial work experience in engineering.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Doctoral Researcher
University Of Auckland, Bioengineering Institute
05.2019 - Current
- Performed research into neurogastroenterology and motility to increase knowledge and provide advanced literature review.
- Investigated various image processing and analysis techniques to decipher structure-functional relationships of intricate interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) networks in stomach.
- Developed fully automated pipeline for machine learning segmentation of ICC networks.
- Designed framework for quantifying, analyzing & interpreting data analysis results to draw inferences and conclusions about ICC network patterns and distribution to electrophysiological function in stomach.
- Utilized MATLAB and ImageJ to analyze data and create visualizations.
- Wrote 3 peer-reviewed research papers, 3 conference proceedings, literature review, and technical reports.
- Present research findings at national & international conferences to initiate valuable collaborations.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Physics)
University Of Auckland, Faculty Of Science
07.2020 - 07.2022
- Patiently guided and gave useful lab demonstrations to 20-25 students in their experimental work.
- Ensured all students participated and understood lessons planned in advance.
- Marked student's reports fairly and according to university guidelines, with helpful feedback for further improvements.
Teaching Assistant
University Of Auckland, Faculty Of Engineering
03.2020 - 07.2021
- Helped with grading assignments and tests, providing constructive feedback to students based on results.
- Supported classroom activities, tutoring, and reviewing work.
Application Engineer
Transwater Tenaga Sdn Bhd
01.2015 - 07.2016
- Customer service and communication: Handle customer inquiries, customer coverage, in-house sales pursuit, and follow-ups on preliminary stage design, dealing with principles, and generating technical & commercial proposals.
- Commercial awareness: Formulating and implementing a marketing plan of various strategies to meet defined goals and objectives. Assist salesperson in meeting annual sales targets for Transwater and its Principal(s).
- Client relationship-building: Helped devise ExxonMobil's project to improve customer engagement, resulting in 30% more customer inquiries. This, in turn, led to 40% increase in revenue.
- Teamwork: Assist in training and knowledge sharing among teammates to groom competency and skills.
Research Assistant,
University Of Malaya
04.2014 - 12.2014
- Analysis & attention to detail: Performed research in biomedical science involving physical and structural study of biomolecules. Mastered techniques in animal cell culture.
- Technical writing & verbal communication: Contribute to production of research reports. Attend and contribute to relevant presentations/meetings.
- Self-starter & initiative: Developed research methods and techniques within framework of research project.
Design Engineer
Boilermech Sdn Bhd
03.2012 - 09.2013
- Attention to detail: Perform detailed engineering calculations according to related code & standards. Generate detailed engineering drawings for fabrication. Submit design drawings & calculations to third-party & local authorities.
- Teamwork: Work closely with project engineers, suppliers, marketing, and production team by performing large and complex engineering assignments related to creation, development, and improvement of water tube boiler product design.
- Decision-making: In charge of appropriately selecting equipment and procuring a new project(s).
- Self-starter/initiative: Execute a new project venture for a biogas plant.
- Project management: Develop budget, estimate labour, material and construction cost for new biogas project.
- Innovation & creativity: Perform research study for design improvement. Design a complete ammonia scrubber system with good efficiency for the biogas project.
Engineering Research Executive
Asia Iknowledge Sdn Bhd
12.2011 - 03.2012
- Organizational skills: Plan, structure, and design a technical conference/training program for electrical engineers.
- Communication: Conduct intensive internet and telephone research with senior-level executives to determine commercial viability for training in specific technical fields. Communicate pertinent program information to sales team.
- Commercial awareness: Research critical issues and challenges that industries around Asia-pacific face in implementing ISO 9001 and transform these into successful technical programs. Identify industry leaders in various sectors.
- Project management: Manage and control training budget within given timelines. Oversee overall progression of ‘ISO 9001' project.
- Creativity: Design promotional highlights for ‘ISO 9001' project marketing purpose.
Education
Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering & Bioengineering
University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand09.2023
Master of Science - Biomedical Engineering & Medical Imaging
University College London
London, United Kingdom11.2018
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) - Chemical Engineering
Monash University
Melbourne, Australia11.2011
Skills
- Machine Learning
- MATLAB programming
- Image processing & Analysis
- Technical/ Scientific Writing
- Research & Conference Presentation
- Software: ImageJ, NifTK, ParaView
- Algorithm Validation
- Data Analysis
- High Performance Computing
- Statistical Analysis
- Strong Mathematical Aptitude
Research Profile
My primary focus is unravelling the electrophysiological events in the GI tract, and their connection to gut contractile patterns, and the diseases associated with its dysfunctions. During my doctoral study, I developed an innovative analytical framework to explore the relationship between the structure of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and gut motility function. My aim is to develop reliable diagnostic methods for functional GI motility disorders by characterizing the architecture of ICC network in the stomach, employing machine learning segmentation to extract confocal imaged networks and quantifying their morphology, spatial distribution, and interconnections using numerical metrics, fractal analysis, and graph theory.
Additional Information
- S. A. Mah , R. Avci, P. Du, J. M. Vanderwinden, and L. K. Cheng, “Deciphering Stomach Myoelectrical Slow Wave Conduction Patterns via Confocal Imaging of Gastric Pacemaker Cells and Fractal Geometry,” Annu. Int. Conf. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Soc. EMBS, vol. 2022, pp. 3514–3517, Jul. 2022.
- S. A. Mah , P. Du, R. Avci, J.-M. Vanderwinden, and L. K. Cheng, “Analysis of Regional Variations of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Murine Distal Stomach Informed by Confocal Imaging and Machine Learning Methods,” Cell. Mol. Bioeng., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 193–205, Apr. 2022.
- S. A. Mah , R. Avci, P. Du, J.-M. Vanderwinden, and L. K. Cheng, “Antral Variation of Murine Gastric Pacemaker Cells Informed by Confocal Imaging and Machine Learning Methods,” Annu. Int. Conf. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Soc. EMBS, vol. 2021, pp. 3105–3108, Nov. 2021..
- S. A. Mah , R. Avci, L. K. Cheng, and P. Du, “Current Applications of Mathematical Models of the Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Gastrointestinal Tract,” WIREs Mech. Dis., vol. 13, no. 2, p. e1507, Mar. 2021 *Selected as issue cover. *Article featured on Advanced Science News
- S. A. Mah , R. Avci, P. Du J-M. Vanderwinden and L. K. Cheng, “Supervised Machine Learning Segmentation and Quantification of Gastric Pacemaker Cells,” Annu. Int. Conf. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Soc. EMBS, vol. 2020, pp. 1408–1411, Jul. 2020
Timeline
Graduate Teaching Assistant (Physics)
University Of Auckland, Faculty Of Science
07.2020 - 07.2022
Teaching Assistant
University Of Auckland, Faculty Of Engineering
03.2020 - 07.2021
Doctoral Researcher
University Of Auckland, Bioengineering Institute
05.2019 - Current
Application Engineer
Transwater Tenaga Sdn Bhd
01.2015 - 07.2016
Research Assistant,
University Of Malaya
04.2014 - 12.2014
Design Engineer
Boilermech Sdn Bhd
03.2012 - 09.2013
Engineering Research Executive
Asia Iknowledge Sdn Bhd
12.2011 - 03.2012
Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering & Bioengineering
University of Auckland
Master of Science - Biomedical Engineering & Medical Imaging
University College London
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) - Chemical Engineering
Monash University
Similar Profiles
Jennifer LuJennifer Lu
Research Assistant at Auckland Bioengineering Institute (Empathic computing laboratory)Research Assistant at Auckland Bioengineering Institute (Empathic computing laboratory)
Sharon McKenzieSharon McKenzie
Financial Administrator III (Hybrid) at Georgia Institute of Technology, School of The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and BiosciencesFinancial Administrator III (Hybrid) at Georgia Institute of Technology, School of The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences
Nuno CoelhoNuno Coelho
Senior Researcher, Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies at Institute for Bioengineering of CataloniaSenior Researcher, Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies at Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia