Through her work as a PhD student in biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University, Madison Albert is focused on enhancing MRIs. A former Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipient, Albert recently got another vote of confidence when she was selected for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).
“Receiving the NSF GRFP award was a huge honor,” Albert said. “The program aims to recognize students with strong potential for research success, so being selected was an incredibly validating moment.”
This prestigious award, which includes three years of funding for promising graduate students pursuing research in STEM fields, will support Albert’s work optimizing MRI outputs.
“I was initially drawn to MRI research because of its mathematical foundations and potential to quickly translate into improved patient care,” she said. “Within MRI, RF pulse design is often overlooked during sequence development, so my work has the potential to offer meaningful improvements.”
Albert theorizes MRIs can be improved by better radiofrequency (RF) pulses, with the potential to improve image quality, reduce scan time and enable new imaging applications.
Her work has already yielded success. Last year, she developed a model that allowed her to design RF pulses to meet specific goals, which she’s already put to work with a fast-imaging technique most often used for brain and abdominal scans. Her model has led to reduced blurring in images.
Learn more about Albert’s experiences in the lab and at CWRU.
Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
1. What drew you to CWRU?
I chose CWRU for my PhD because of its strong MRI research. After my undergraduate research advisor Dr. Will Grissom moved his lab to CWRU, I spent a summer doing research here and was excited by the collaborative environment and research excellence.
At CWRU, students are treated as independent researchers and given the support and tools they need to ask questions, try new ideas and make a meaningful impact in their field.
2. Why did you decide to pursue biomedical engineering?
I chose biomedical engineering (BME) in undergrad because I didn’t want to pick only one field. BME combines the most STEM disciplines—math, medicine, biology, chemistry, physics and computer science. Additionally, BME research has the power to directly improve the quality of life for patients.
3. What have you enjoyed so far about your lab experience at CWRU?
The best part about my lab experience at CWRU is how easy it is to try out new ideas. I can come up with a new optimization strategy at my desk and test those RF pulses on the MRI scanner later that week. Having such accessible scanner time has allowed me to iterate and validate my work much more quickly.
4. What does the NSF GRFP mean for your education and research?
The funding from the NSF GRFP gives me more flexibility in my research. Since the GRFP funds the student rather than the specific proposal, I have the freedom to pursue my thesis research and investigate new directions as they arise.
5. Are you involved on campus in any other ways?
I’m excited to TA for EBME 431: “Physics of Imaging” this fall, and I plan on continuing to pursue teaching opportunities to earn my teaching certificate from the School of Medicine. I also plan to get involved in Rise Up—which helps expose Cleveland high school students to scientific research—next year.
6. What was the Goldwater Scholar experience like?
The Goldwater Scholarship was a great opportunity to grow as an undergraduate researcher. The application process helped me build strong scientific communication skills, which also supported my GRFP application. The network of scholars provided valuable mentorship as I applied to graduate school, and I look forward to mentoring new scholars in the future!