CV
Hacking
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Robotic Public Servant
- Implemented a tiny Python program for summarizing government datasets in plain English in half a day
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HealthMoves
- Worked with a team of 10 engineers, software developers, scientific liasons, and marketers to create a smart knee brace in a weekend, winning a place at inter-city finals in Waterloo
- Contributed data science
- Extracted relevant features of knee-joint health (eg range of motion) from accelerometer and gyroscope data
- Worked together with machine learning engineer to predict simulated knee injury vs. healthy control based on gait using LSTM deep neural network implemented with TensorFlow Keras
- Implemented data cleaning, preparation, and feature engineering components of machine learning pipeline in Python
Posters and Talks
Mouse over a presentation or click for details.
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Reverse-Engineering the Serotonin System
Emerson Harkin, Jean-Claude Béïque, and Richard Naud.
- Three minute online talk showcasing my research to general audience
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Multiple Mechanisms of Gain Modulation in the Serotonin System
Emerson Harkin, Alexandre Payeur, Jean-François Boucher, Léa Caya-Bissonnette, Dominic Cyr, André Longtin, Michael Lynn, Chloe Stewart, Jean-Claude Béïque, and Richard Naud.
- Short talk to national research audience
- Predicting the properties of the serotonin system using machine learning models
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Multiple Mechanisms of Gain Modulation in the Serotonin System
Emerson Harkin, Alexandre Payeur, Michael Lynn, Jean-François Boucher, André Longtin, Richard Naud, and Jean-Claude Béïque.
- Poster abstract accepted to national research conference in early March but meeting later cancelled due to COVID-19
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A Recurrent Network Motif in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Classifies Habenula Inputs Over Behavioural Timescales
Michael Lynn, Sean Geddes, Mohamad Charhrour, Sébastien Maillé, Emerson Harkin, Samir Haj-Dahmane, Richard Naud, and Jean-Claude Béïque.
- Poster abstract accepted to national research conference in early March but meeting later cancelled due to COVID-19
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Multiple Mechanisms of Gain Modulation in the Serotonin System
Emerson Harkin, Alexandre Payeur, Jean-François Boucher, Léa Caya-Bissonnette, Dominic Cyr, André Longtin, Michael Lynn, Chloe Stewart, Jean-Claude Béïque, and Richard Naud.
- Short talk to international research audience
- Predicting the properties of the serotonin system using machine learning models
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Microcircuit Mechanisms for Controlling Serotonergic Gain
Emerson Harkin, Alexandre Payeur, Jean-François Boucher, Dominic Cyr, André Longtin, Michael Lynn, Chloe Stewart, Richard Naud, and Jean-Claude Béïque.
- Research talk summarizing our recent advances in predicting the properties of the serotonin system using machine learning models
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Reverse-Engineering the Serotonin System
Emerson Harkin, Jean-Claude Béïque, and Richard Naud.
- Five minute talk showcasing my research to ~100 person general audience
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Reinforcement Learning for Systems Neuroscientists
Emerson Harkin.
- Introduction to reinforcement learning theory with applications to the serotonin system
- Based on Reinforcement Learning by Sutton and Barto (2018)
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A Recurrent Network Motif in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Supports an Operational Classification of Habenula Inputs
Michael Lynn, Sean Geddes, Mohamad Chahrour, Sébastien Maillé, Emerson Harkin, Samir Haj-Dahmane, Richard Naud, and Jean-Claude Béïque.
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Non-Uniform Subthreshold Dynamics and Integrative Features in Dorsal Raphe Neurons
Emerson Harkin, Michael Lynn, Alexandre Payeur, André Longtin, Richard Naud, and Jean-Claude Béïque.
- Presented poster with preliminary results at national research conference
- Maximum likelihood machine learning models predict variable sub-linear dynamics of serotonin neurons
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Manipulating Neurons With Light
Emerson Harkin and Jean-Claude Béïque.
- Introductory seminar on optogenetics for research audience
Education
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Ph.D. in Neuroscience
- Research-based degree in computational neuroscience supervised by Dr. Richard Naud
- International research collaboration (in progress)
- Represented Ottawa-based research group during visits to collaborators based at the Allen Institute for Brain Science (Seattle) and Charité University Berlin
- Administation and maintenance of lab Linux server (used to run simulations at scale) and private GitHub page
- Supervision and mentorship
- Supervised data collection by two master’s students
- Supervised one semester rotational research project of an undergraduate student leading to poster presentation of preliminary results
- Lead three day lab visit by undergraduate students considering studies in computational neuroscience
- Audited course in applied probability theory
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M.Sc. in Neuroscience
- Research-based degree in experimental and computational neuroscience supervised by Dr. Jean-Claude Béïque and co-supervised by Dr. Richard Naud
- Interdisciplinary research
- Designed, carried out, and analyzed experiments in collaboration with electrophysiologists and physicists to better understand the electrical properties of serotonin neurons
- Supervised data collection by two undergraduate students
- Extended a Python library for fitting maximum-likelihood machine learning models of single neurons to capture the distinctive properties of serotonin neurons (code under embargo)
- Defended research project at departmental seminars and poster days (not listed above)
- Outcome: Preliminary results accepted for poster presentation at national research conference, awarded Best Neuroscience M.Sc. Student by department, and nominated for Best M.Sc. Thesis by examination committee members Dr. Leonard Maler and Dr. Tuan Bui
- Implemented a Python toolbox for generating and visualizing expected results of complex electrophysiological experiments
- Organized weekly lab meetings
- Coursework in computational neuroscience
- Python simulation code replicating the results of Richardson, Brunel, and Hakim (2003) for an assignment
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B.Sc. hon. in Biomedical Sciences
- Coursework in biology, electrophysiology and physics, biostatistics, calculus, logic, and literature
- One year honours research project
- Supervised by Dr. Paul R. Albert (Ottawa Hospital Reseach Institute)
- Biochemical experiments analyzed with linear statistical models (using R) revealed a dose-dependent effect of the mood-stabilizer lithium on gene regulatory proteins involved in serotonin receptor expression
- Presented work in written thesis format and as a poster
Outreach
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Community Outreach Volunteer
- Increased youth science engagement through hands-on elementary school classroom activities in collaboration with local educator
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Volunteer Circle Member
- Helped with reintegration of recently-incarcerated individual into society by offering support and maintaining their personal accountability
- Collaborated with team of volunteers (a “circle”) and professionals to provide mentorship, social support, and hands-on assistance while challenging potentially problematic attitudes and behaviours during once to twice-weekly meetings
- Summarized circle progress in monthly written reports for organization records
Awards
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Doctoral Post-Graduate Scholarship (PGS-D)
- National research scholarship awarded based on research potential, leadership qualities, and academic achievement
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Excellence Scholarship
- In recognition of receipt of an external research award from NSERC (see above)
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Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship
- Master’s level national research scholarship awarded based on research potential, leadership qualities, and academic achievement
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Excellence Scholarship
- In recognition of receipt of an external research award from CIHR (see above)
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Graduate Admissions Scholarship
- Awarded based on academic merit
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Dean's Honour List
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Undergraduate Student Research Award
- Undergraduate level national research scholarship awarded based on academic achievement and research potential
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Dean's Honour List
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Dean's Honour List
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Dean's Honour List
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Undergraduate Admissions Scholarship
- Awarded based on academic merit