Sepideh Sepahi
Summary
Dedicated and detail-oriented biomedical informatics graduate student with a strong foundation in healthcare data analysis and population-based cancer registry systems. Experienced in working with large-scale EHR data through the N3C platform, and familiar with UK Biobank data preparation. Skilled in Python, SQL, and R for data processing and model execution, including LightGBM and RNN. Passionate about using data-driven methods to improve patient outcomes and support interdisciplinary healthcare research.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Graduate Student Research Assistant
University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
Houston, TX
01.2024 - Current
- As a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (SBMI) since January 2024, I have worked with the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data to support research on long COVID. In this role, I became familiar with large-scale electronic health record (EHR) datasets and performed data extraction, cleaning, and preparation using SQL. I ran existing machine learning models, including Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) and LightGBM, to analyze and predict post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). I also began working with the UK Biobank data, contributing to early efforts in data preparation for EHR-based projects. My responsibilities include supporting data workflows and contributing to research activities through data preparation, documentation, and team collaboration.
Cancer Registrar
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Tabriz
03.2016 - 03.2019
- From March 2016 to March 2023, I worked as a Cancer Registrar at the East Azerbaijan Population-Based Cancer Registry, affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. I collected, entered, and managed cancer data from regional hospitals and healthcare centers using CanReg5 software. I cleaned datasets with Stata and performed fundamental statistical analysis using R. This work contributed to population-based cancer research and supported national registry reporting efforts.
Education
Master of Science - Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houst
Houston, TX12-2025
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Technology
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Tabriz, Iran07-2015
Skills
Technical skills
- Python
- R
- SQL
- SQL query writing
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Stata
- Can-Reg5
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Data analysis
- C# Programmer
Health informatics and data
- Electronic health records (EHR)
- Population-based cancer registry
- Working with N3C data
- Working with UK Biobank data
Soft skills, general skills
- Literature review
- Data collection and organization
- Strong team collaboration
- Research documentation and reporting
- Experience working with multidisciplinary academic teams
- Ability to handle sensitive health data responsibly
Languages
- Persian (Native)
- English (Fluent)
- French (Basic)
- Turkish (Basic)
Publication
1. Providing Suggested Rules for Multiple Primary Cancer Recording, Coding and Registering in East Azerbaijan Population-based Cancer Registry (EA-PBCR), Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, V(24), P(1905). Roya Dolatkhah, Mohammad Hossein Somi, Iraj Asvadi Kermani, Sepideh Sepahi, Narges Youzbashi, Behnoush Abedi-Ardekani, Submitted for publication.
2. Breast Cancer Incidence and Surveillance in East Azerbaijan, 10 Years Cancer Registry Data, International Journal of Breast Cancer, vol. 2020, Article ID 1963814, 6 pages. Roya Dolatkhah, Mohammad Hossein Somi, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi, Mehrnaz Hosseinalifam, Sepideh Sepahi, Mina Belalzadeh, Marzieh Nezamdoust, Saeed Dastgiri.
3. A 12-year trend analysis of the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers in East Azerbaijan: Last updated results of an ongoing population-based cancer registry, BMC Public Health, Somi et al., BMC Cancer (2019) 19:782. Mohammad Hossein Somi, Roya Dolatkhah, Sepideh Sepahi, Mina Belalzadeh, Shahnaz Naghshi, and Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi.
4. Cancer Incidence in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran in 2015-2016: Results of a population-based cancer registry, BMC Public Health, Somi et al., BMC Public Health (2018) 18:1266. Mohammad Hossein Somi, Roya Dolatkhah, Sepideh Sepahi, Mina Belalzadeh, Jabraeil Sharbafi, Leila Abdollahi, Azin Nahvijou, Saeed Nemati, Reza Malekzadeh, and Kazem Zendehdel
5. Five Years' Time Trend Analysis of Breast Cancer in East Azerbaijan: Results from Cancer Registry Data, 13th International Congress of Breast Cancer, February 14-16, 2018, Researching Center of Cancer Institute, Tehran, Iran. Somi MH, Dolatkhah R, Sepahi S, Belalzadeh M, Sharbafi J, Abdollahi L, Nahvijou A, Nemati S, Malekzadeh R, Zendehdel K
6. Ten-year Time Trend Analysis for Incidence of Gastrointestinal Cancers in East Azerbaijan 1384-1393, International Congress of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, January 28-30, 2017, Tehran, Iran
7. Preliminary Results of East Azerbaijan Population-Based Cancer Registry during 2015-2016: Second Comprehensive Report of Cancer Incidence, International Congress of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, January 28-30, 2017, Tehran, Iran
8. Result of the New Initiative to Establish East Azerbaijan Population-Based Cancer Registry (EA-PBCR) in 2015, IACR 2017, International Association of Cancer Registries Annual Conference, October 17-19, 2017
9. Breast Cancer in East Azerbaijan, Iran: 5 Years Population-Based Survival Analysis of Cancer Registry Data, 13th International Congress of Breast Cancer, February 14-16, 2018, Researching Center of Cancer Institute, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Hossein Somi, Roya Dolatkhah, Sepideh Sepahi, Mina Belalzadeh, Poster, ICBCMED13-042
10. Two Years Population-Based Cancer Registry Report from Northwest of Iran, 15th Congress of the Iranian Society of Medical Oncology and Hematology and Annual Oncology Nursing Conference, October 26-28, 2016, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Hossein Somi, Roya Dolatkhah, Sepideh Sepahi, Mina Belalzadeh, Poster, ICBCMED13-043
11. Design and Evaluation of a Gynecology EMR at Gynecology Clinic of Taleghani Hospital of Tabriz, Iran, 2nd National Congress on Novel Technologies of Iran, September 3, 2015, Tehran, Iran. Peyman Rezaie, Nazila Moftian, Sepideh Sepahi, Soraya Javanmardi
Workshops
1. International Workshop on Cancer Survival: Principles, Methods, and Analysis, October 16–19, 2016, Tehran, Iran
2. Reeducation Program on Population-Based Cancer Registry Data Cleaning and Analysis, November 27–30, 2016, Tehran, Iran
3. Preliminary SPSS 17 Training Workshop, RDCC, Tabriz Faculty of Medical Sciences, October 2016, Tabriz, Iran
4. Population-Based Cancer Registry Program Workshop, April 16–18, 2016, Tehran, Iran
5. Population-Based Cancer Registry Workshop, Cancer Research Center, April 2015, Tehran, Iran
6. Computer Programming Training Program (C#), 2015–2017, Tabriz, Iran
7. SQL Server Training Program, 2015–2017, Tabriz, Iran
8. EndNote Workshop, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 2017, Tabriz, Iran
Accomplishments
1. Best National Registration Award, Second International Congress of Registration of Diseases and Health Outcomes – Tehran, Iran, December 2018
2. Best National Registration Award, First International Congress of Registration of Diseases and Health Outcomes – Mashhad, Iran, February 2017
3. Bronze Medal in Karate, 12th Sports Olympiad of Iranian Medical Universities – Urmia, Iran, 2015
4. Black Belt, 2nd Dan, Shitoryu Shitoki Style – Iran Karate Federation, 2012
5. Multiple National Karate Competition Medals – Including 10 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze Medals over 12 years
6. First Place in Biology, Gilan Province Student Olympiad – Iran, 2009
Certification
1. Research, GDPR and Confidentiality Quiz – Passed, Medical Research Council (MRC), April 7, 2025
2. CITI Program – Conflicts of Interest (Basic Course), MIT Affiliates – Completed August 6, 2024 | Expires August 6, 2028
3.CITI Program – Data or Specimens Only Research (Refresher Course), MIT Affiliates – Completed August 6, 2024 | Expires August 6, 2027 Verify
4. CITI Program – Group 1 Biomedical Researcher and Key Personnel (Basic Course), UTHSC at Houston – Completed January 21, 2024 | Expires January 21, 2027 Verify
5.CITI Program – Data Acquisition and Management (RCR), UTHSC at Houston – Completed January 21, 2024 6.NIH Information Security and Management Awareness Refresher – Completed January 3, 2024
7.Python Essential Training – Completed December 20, 2023
8.Python Quick Start (2019) – Completed December 20, 2023 Certificate
9.Python Quick Start (CPE Credit) – Completed December 20, 2023 Certificate
10. Python for Students – Completed December 20, 2023 Certificate
11. Programming Foundations: Fundamentals – Completed December 19, 2023 Certificate
12. EndNote Workshop, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences – Date not specified
13. SPSS 17 Statistical Software Workshop, Tabriz Faculty of Medical Sciences – October 2016
14. Population-Based Cancer Registry Workshop, Cancer Research Center, Tehran – 2015–2016
15. International Workshop on Cancer Survival, Tehran – October 2016
16. Black Belt, 2nd Dan – Shitoryu Shitoki Style, Iran Karate Federation – November 15, 2012
Timeline
Graduate Student Research Assistant
University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
01.2024 - Current
Cancer Registrar
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
03.2016 - 03.2019
Master of Science - Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houst
Bachelor of Science - Health Information Technology
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
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