EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training Cloud Computing for Big Data

People

Mariella Panagiotopoulou

I obtained my BSc in Applied Mathematics and Physics and my MSc in Applied Mathematical Sciences from National Technical University of Athens, Greece.

From then I went on to work as a data analyst in an International market research company. This company provides powerful market, consumer and media information based on the consumer goods industry using prescriptive analytic tools and visualization platforms.

Outside the CDT, I love cycling and travelling.

PhD title

Learning the hierarchical structure of spatio-temporal data in long term EEG recordings

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, and more specifically is an electrophysiological disorder of the brain, characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. One way to diagnose epilepsy is to use the electroencephalogram (EEG), which provides a measurement of the electrical activity of the brain.

Interestingly, recent studies have identified multiple rhythms (daily, monthly and/or yearly) in the EEG signals of epilepsy patients. Importantly, these rhythms are shown to modulate seizure risk, and even seizure type and severity. Thus, if we can capture, analyse and understand these long term rhythms, we can gain a better understanding of the vital temporal components that underpin the epileptic brain network in order to modulate epilepsy.

Epilepsy is affecting around 50 million people in the world and around 1 out of 3 do not respond to treatments. One novel avenue to increase treatments efficacy is to consider the timing of treatments. As human brain dynamics evolve over a wide range of time scales – from seconds to days to years – so do epileptic brain dynamics. By understanding different processes on these timescales, we have a chance to interact with them in a timely manner and thereby improve response to treatments.

The CDT programme gives me access to computational resources and provides me with the opportunity to participate to conferences, workshops and teaching courses that not only enhance my research knowledge, but helps me to my personal and career development as well. The CDT programme beyond all, is a powerful network of people and successful researchers from multiple disciplines that are willing to help you grow as a professional and researcher by providing advice to any problem and exchanging knowledge and experiences.

Supervisor

Yujiang Wang