Arleen Xitumul

Research Assistant, Department of Imaging Genetics Center, University of Southern California (USC)

Project: Associations Between Fine Particulate Matter Exposure and Cortical Thickness in the Developing Brain

PI: Dr. Lauren Salminen

• proccessed structural T1-weighted MRI scans using the FreeSurfer cortical pipeline to obtain cortical thickness measures
• Managed and organized MRI and environmental exposure datasets, performing quality control checks for errors.
• Assisted with running linear mixed models and applying False Discovery Rate corrections for multiple comparisons.
• performed post hoc analyses on subgroups, such as healthy controls, to identify trends in specific brain regions.
• Prepared tables and figures summarizing statistical results for the poster
• Conducted literature searches to provide background context for the study's findings.

Research Assistant, Department of Mathematics, California State University, Fullerton - NAARE         

Project Tracking Heavy-Tailed Behavior in EEGs of Neurodegenerative Disorders, 

PI: Dr. Matheus Guerrero, Dr. Archana McEligot, Dr. Mamudu

• Analyzed EEG recordings from individuals with Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and healthy controls.
• Applied extreme value theory (EVT), including Peak Over Threshold (POT) and Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD), to identify and model rare fluctuations in brain signals
• nvestigated the presence of heavy-tailed distributions in EEG data to identify potential biomarkers for neurodegenerative conditions
• Contributed to literature reviews, statistical modeling, and interpretation of results for potential use in diagnostic applications.

Research Assistant, Department of Public Health, California State University, Fullerton - PATH                            

Project: Extreme Heat Exposure and Pregnancy Outcomes

PI: Dr. Bo Park, Dr. Rusmevichientong, Pimbucha

• Investigated the relationship between extreme heat exposure and maternal health outcomes through literature review and data analysis
• Reviewed findings from peer-reviewed articles to identify potential correlations between environmental heat and pregnancy complications.
• Contributed to the development of research questions, coding of data, and thematic analysis related to public health and climate impacts.

• Basic Life Support, CPR
• Honor Roll Certificate – Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy (2020)
• Leadership Award – California National Guard, Sunburst Youth Academy Awarded for exceeding leadership standards as a Squad Leader, demonstrating initiative and positive team direction.
• Certificate of Congressional Recognition – U.S. Congress Honored by U.S. Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano for academic achievement (2020)
• Certificate of Recognition – California State Assembly (2024) Recognized for academic excellence and completion of the Research Scholars Program at California State University, Fullerton.
• CITI Training Certificate / RCR Training