Zhen

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Zhen Yang

in Nagoya, 2013

I'm a former PhD student in the Image Analysis and Communications Lab (IACL) at Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. My advisor is Dr. Jerry L. Prince. I graduated in 2015 and now I'm a software engineer at Google.

Research Interests

Medical image analysis: image segmentation, registration, statistical shape models, image based diagnosis
Computer vision: range image acquisition, registration, multi-camera calibration, feature detection and matching
Machine learning: with application to segmentation and disease classification, deep learning

Education

PhD student, 2009~present, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
M.S., 2006~2009, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China
B.S., 2002~2006, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, China

Experience

Research Assistant, Image Analysis and Communications Lab, Johns Hopkins University, 2009-present
Intern, GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna, NY, 2014 summer
Teaching Assistant, Medical Image Analysis, Johns Hopkins University, 2012,2013 spring
Intern, 3D Computer Vision & Graphics Group, SAMSUNG Advanced Institute of Technology, 2009 summer
Research Assistant, Laser and Vision Measurement Lab, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2006~2009

RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • Cerebellum sub-structure labeling

Accurate delineation of sub-regions of the cerebellum, into cerebellar lobules, is needed for studying the region specific decline in function from cerebellar pathology. In this work, we present an automated cerebellar lobule segmentation method using graph cuts, with a region-based term enforcing consistency with multi-atlas labeling results, and a boundary term defined by membership output from a random forest classifier. The automated segmentation method produces a 28 label cerebellar parcellation. It is validated using both healthy subjects and patients with cerebellar disease.

MICCAI SATA workshop 2013


  • Deep learning based cerebellar disease classification and functional score prediction (ongoing project)

Dimension reduction and feature representation is an important and challenging part in studying the structral-functional relation in medical image analysis. In the past decade, deep learning has gained great attention in various fields for its power in feature learning. Here we try to apply deep learning techniques to predict cerebellar ataxia types and functional scores from MR images. Preliminary result outperforms classification method based on traditional dimension reduction techniques such as PCA.


  • Cerebellar disease type and functional score prediction in shape space

Different types of cerebellar ataxias are associated with different region-specific patterns of cerebellar atrophy. Studying these atrophy patterns can help predict disease types and stages, and in turn help treatment planning. In this work, we (1) present an automated image processing pipeline to generate a shape descriptor of the cerebellum; (2) use machine learning to predict ataxia types as well as with a cognitive score (Stroop color-word test). Using the shape descriptor as input, we are able to classify the healthy controls and different ataxia types. We also present results on predicting cognitive scores.

HIC 2013


  • Sulcal curve detection

Automatic labeling of the gyri and sulci on the cortical surface is important for studying cortical morphology and brain functions within populations. We propose a method to simultaneously label gyral regions and extract sulcal curves. The proposed method labels the subject cortical surface by deformably registering a network of curves that form the boundary of gyral regions to the subject cortical surface. In the registration process, the curves are encouraged to follow the fine details of the sulcal geometry and to observe the shape statistics learned from training data.

SPIE medical imaging 2012


  • Cell segmentation in Fluorescence Images

With the rapid development of microscopy for cell imaging, there is a strong and growing demand for image analysis software to quantitatively study cell morphology. Automatic cell segmentation is an important step in image analysis. We propose a fully automatic method for segmenting whole cells in fluorescence images of confluent cell monolayers. This method addresses several challenges through a combination of ideas: 1) It realizes a fully automatic segmentation process by first detecting the cell nuclei as initial seeds and then using a multi-object geometric deformable model (MGDM) for final segmentation. 2) To deal with different defects in the fluorescence images, the cell border is enhanced by applying an order-statistic filter and principal curvature based image operator. 3) The final segmentation using MGDM promotes robust and accurate segmentation results, and guarantees no overlaps and gaps between neighboring cells.

SPIE medical imaging 2013


Publications

  • Yang Z., Ergun E., Jedynak B., Ying S. H., Prince J. L., "Cerebellar shape analysis for cerebellar ataxia classification and functional score prediction", .Hopkins Imaging Conference 2013, Poster presentation.
  • Yang Z., Bogovic J. A., Ye C., Ying S. H., Prince J. L., "Automated cerebellar lobule segmentation using graph cuts", .MICCAI Challenge Workshop on Segmentation: Algorithms, Theory and Applications (SATA) 2013, Oral and poster presentation.
  • Yang Z., Carass A., Prince J. L., "Covariance shrinking in active shape models with application to gyral labeling of the cerebral cortex", .ISBI 2013, Oral presentation.
  • Yang Z., Bogovic J. A., Carass A., Ye M., Searson P. C., Prince J. L., "Automatic Cell Segmentation in Fluorescence Images of Confluent Cell Monolayers Using Multi-object Geometric Deformable Model", .SPIE 2013, Oral presentation.
  • Yang Z., Carass A., Prince J. L., "Automatic sulcal curve extraction with MRF based shape prior", .ISBI 2012, Oral presentation.
  • Yang Z., Carass A., Chen C., Prince J. L., "Simultaneous cortical surface labeling and sulcal curve extraction", .SPIE 2012, Oral presentation.
  • Yang Z., Sun J., Zhang G., "Automatic surface registration based on Regional Curvature Map", .(in Chinese), Journal of Optoelectronics • Laser (EI), 2010.
  • Yang Z., Sun J., Wu Z., Zhang G., "A new camera calibration method based on two 1D targets", .(in Chinese), Journal of Optoelectronics • Laser (EI), 2010.
  • Sun J., Yang Z., Liu Q., Zhang G., "Automatic and simultaneous registration of 3D measurement data", .(in Chinese), Journal of Optoelectronics • Laser (EI), 2009.
  • Yang Z., Sun J., Zhang G., "Automatic registration of multi-view range images based on statistical model", .The 7th International Symposium on Instrument and Control Technology, Beijing, 2008.


Activities and Awards

  • 2013 Reviewer for the Scientific World Journal.
  • 2013 Reviewer for 2014 IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging.
  • 2009 Titled Outstanding Graduate of Master’s Degree, Beihang Unversity.
  • 2005 Member of Beihang Robot Team in ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest, selection match in China.
  • 2005 Honorable Mention in Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM).


Contact

Johns Hopkins University, Homewood
Clark 204, 3400 N Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21218
Email: zyang11 at jhu dot edu