Miranda Kirby PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Ryerson University
Dr. Miranda Kirby is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Ryerson University, an Affiliate Scientist at the Keenan Research Center and Member of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at St. Michael’s Hospital, Adjunct Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children and Investigator at Center for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI) at UBC. She completed a BSc as Gold Medalist with an honors double major in Applied Mathematics and Biology and a PhD in Medical Biophysics at Western University. During her PhD studies her research focused on developing and validating new image analysis tools and biomarkers for chronic lung disease using hyperpolarized noble gas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After completing her PhD, she joined the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation at UBC where she developed new ways to generate and validate biomarkers of asthma and COPD using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Dr. Kirby’s research is published in high impact journals like Radiology, Thorax, the European Respiratory Journal, and the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Her research has been funded by the Parker B. Francis Foundation, CIHR Banting, CIHR Bisby, NSERC, Canadian Thoracic Society, Canadian Respiratory Research Network and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.
Graduate Students
Amir Moslemi MSc
PhD Candidate, Ryerson University
Amir is a second year Ph.D student studying Biomedical Physics at Ryerson university. He is investigating machine learning and deep learning applications on CT images. He previously completed his M.Sc at Sharif University of Technology, his master thesis was “CT Images optimization by dosimetry consideration”. After his Masters degree, he was a researcher at Amirkabir University of Technology from 2016-2017 and University of Regina from 2017-2018. Research Interests; Optimization, CT Image reconstruction, Neutron unfolding, Monte Carlo simulation, Machine learning, Neural Network and Inverse Problem.
Meghan Koo
MSc Candidate, Ryerson University
Meghan is a first year MSc student studying Biomedical Physics at Ryerson University. Her research is focused on the application of CT texture features and its relationship with visual emphysema score. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a BSc in Honours Life Physics Co-op, with a double minor in French and Applied Language Studies. During her undergrad, she investigated the optimization of electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) for breast IMRT and small field VMAT treatment plans under the supervision of Dr. Ernest Osei and Dr. Johnson Darko at the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre. Aside from research, Meghan is a student-athlete on the Ryerson Rams Track and Field team. In her spare time, she can be found binge watching YouTube videos or baking cookies, sometimes simultaneously.
Ryan Au
MSc Candidate, Ryerson University
Ryan is a first year MSc student in the Biomedical Physics program at Ryerson University. He is currently developing quantitative image analysis tools to extract texture features from CT images of emphysema and COPD. He has previously completed his HBSc in Medical Physics at McMaster University where he investigated the optical properties of poly(vinyl) alcohol cryogel phantoms under the supervision of Dr. Kevin Diamond at the Juravinski Cancer Centre as part of his undergraduate thesis. When he is not doing research, Ryan finds interest in technology, digital photography, golf, and Formula 1 racing.
Xavier Bauza
MSc Candidate, Ryerson University
Xavier is a first year MSc student in the quantitative imaging lab currently investigating morphological features of the airway tree in the lung and their relationship to Small Airways Disease. He previously completed his HBSc degree at Ryerson University in Medical Physics and also holds a certificate in big data and predictive analysis from Ryerson. Aside from research, Xavier is involved in intramural volleyball and is interested in film photography, technology, and board games.
Sarah Kadhim
MSc Candidate, Ryerson University
Sarah is a first year MSc student studying Biomedical Physics at Ryerson university. Her research focuses on developing CT images analysis tools to quantify the longitudinal change patterns of emphysema progression in patients with COPD. She has a degree in Medical Physics from Ryerson University. Her undergraduate thesis was based on using Ultrasound-Microbubbles to mediate the delivery of fluorescent molecules in prostate cancer cells (in vitro) under the supervision of Dr. Raffi Karshafian at St.Michaels hospital (iBEST). Sarah is interested in research and teaching, she has a certificate in Data Science from Sheridan College, and she is working on her graduate teaching development certificate at Ryerson university. Beside research and teaching, Sarah likes baking and reading books.
Sukhraj Virdee
MSc Candidate, Ryerson University
Sukhraj is a first year MSc student at Ryerson University in the Biomedical Physics program. Sukhraj completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus, specializing in Biomedical Physics, with a minor in chemistry. During his undergraduate degree, he worked with computational fluid dynamic simulations to predict fluid flow through microfluidic devices. Furthermore, he worked at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada to investigate physical properties of color dispersion. Currently, his research is focused on the development of CT analysis tools which identify spatial correlations between voxels identified as either emphysema or small airway disease within the lung. Outside the lab, Sukhraj’s interest include weightlifting, video games, bitcoin and craft beer.
Huma Asghar
MSc Candidate, Ryerson University
Huma is a first year Master’s student, studying Biomedical Physics at Ryerson University. Her research is focused on developing new methods to find spatial correlation between pulmonary vessels and the airway tree in patients affected with COPD. Besides her research and teaching assistant goals, Huma is interested in watching historical movies, and cooking.
Undergraduate Students
- Jason Bartlett
- Dan Genkin
- Danesh Aslam
- Ellison Chen
- Matthew Jung
- Ashlyn McNabb
- Morayo Aladejana
- Guaravveer Singh
- Dylan Young
- Cecilia Tran
Quantitative Image Analysis in Medicine 