Harsh H. Khilawala

(He/Him/His)
Harsh Khilawala

Short bio - about me!

I am a recent CS Graduate with research focus on computational neuroscience and neuroinformatics. My recent work involves studying the behavior and spiking properties of biological neuronal network models using simulation technologies such as PyNN. I graduated with MS in Computer Science from Pace University, New York, United States in May 2025 while I completed my undergraduate with B.TECH. in Computer Science and Engineering in May 2023 from Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), India.

Introduction

Since 2022, my academic and research journey has been driven by a deep curiosity about the human brain — its computational elegance, its adaptability, and its mysteries. During my under undergraduate studies, I got an opportunity to attend the NeuroPSI lab, CNRS - French National Centre for Scientific Research to work on a neuroinformatics project focused on simulating the spiking behavior of biological neuronal network models which at first I got too frustrated to it but with time, I discovered the immense potential of computational methods to unravel the principles of neural function. This experience marked the beginning of my passion for computational neuroscience, where biology and technology converge to help us understand the very foundation of cognition and consciousness.

One of my ultimate career goals is to contribute to the global effort to understand and combat Alzheimer’s disease. (© 2024 Springer Nature Limited. All rights reserved.) Despite being unfamiliar with the fact what actually Alzheimer’s disease is, I know of one thing for sure - This disease has taken away the lives of innumerable people across the globe but this is not the only thing it did, this same disease was responsible to break hell upon people living in their worst nightmare. Beyond its devastating medical effects, Alzheimer’s robs individuals of their memories, identities, and relationships, inflicting profound emotional pain on families and communities. This in itself is like to live with a curse. Even the smallest contribution toward alleviating this suffering would, to me, represent a meaningful step toward serving humanity through science.

Research

Research is something that excites me the most when it comes to developing a solution/product tackling the challenges in the industry/academia. To this, I would like to pursue Doctoral/PhD in Computer Science/Biomedical Data Science with research interests in Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics at top programs (Stanford University being my top choice!) and hence would be applying for PhD Admissions for upcoming Fall intake cycles to a list of few universities where I would be able to pursue my ambitions. My research interests are but not limited to Computational Neuroscience, Neuroinformatics, Neuroimaging, Bio-informatics, Simulation Technologies, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Medical Imaging.

Personal Details

The Big Picture

Alzheimer's Disease


Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is not simply a disorder of forgetting—it is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which the brain gradually loses the ability to maintain the cellular connections and networks that support memory, reasoning, language, and ultimately independent behavior. During this period, abnormal amyloid plaques and tau tangles accumulate, neurons begin to lose their connections, cellular function becomes disrupted, and vulnerable brain regions—including the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, which are central to memory—begin to deteriorate. As the disease progresses, this damage spreads to broader neural systems, eventually affecting language, reasoning, spatial processing, behavior, and the ability to perform even basic daily activities.


WHY did I choose to work upon Alzheimer’s Disease as my ultimate research goal?

Hobbies & Interests


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